Outspoken trade unionist Caswell Franklyn is calling for the removal of the entire management team of the Government Industrial School (GIS).He insisted that even as a staff member remains on suspension with full pay pending investigations into reports that two female wards had allegedly ingested harmful substances under her watch earlier this month, the people responsible for spearheading operations at the state-run institution should be given their walking papers.In addition to saying that he was not pleased with the conflicting messages being publicised about the GIS, Franklyn said he was not comfortable with what was happening with the staff and wards.“That place is a hellhole,” he charged, adding that he was familiar with several unpleasant incidents that occurred at the GIS, particularly at the Female Unit in Barrows, St Lucy, over the years.The former Opposition Senator suggested that in order to bring a new lease to the GIS, the staff serving in managerial positions need
A tribute to the people.
That is the message conveyed by Director of Splash Barbados, Selena McDonald, who produced another stellar event last Saturday evening at the Copacabana Beach Club.
A fine mixture of patrons adorned the Bay Street, St M
Outspoken trade unionist Caswell Franklyn is calling for the removal of the entire management team of the Government Industrial School (GIS).He insisted that even as a staff member remains on suspension with full pay pending investigations into reports two female wards had allegedly ingested harmful substances under her watch earlier this month, the people responsible for spearheading operations at the state-run institution should be given their walking papers.In addition to saying that he was not pleased with the conflicting messages being publicised about the GIS, Franklyn said he was not comfortable with what was happening with the staff and the wards at the reform facility.“That place is a hellhole,” he charged, adding that he was familiar with several unpleasant incidents that occurred at the GIS, particularly at the Female Unit in Barrows, St Lucy, over the years.The former Opposition Senator suggested that in order to bring a new lease to the GIS, the staff serving in mana
A staff member of the Government Industrial School (GIS) is awaiting her fate after being suspended from duty with full pay pending the outcome of a probe into reports that two female wards had allegedly ingested harmful substances under her watch.Barbados TODAY has obtained a copy of correspondence that Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Information Deborah Payne sent to the graduate teacher in the GIS’ Female Unit at Barrows, St Lucy, informing her of her immediate suspension and advising her to stay away from the institution.“It has been brought to my attention by the Acting Principal of the Government Industrial School that you were on duty on July 9, 2022, when two (2) committed residents reported that they ingested harmful substances,” the July 10, 2022 letter stated, noting that at the time both residents had been taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).“It is to be noted that this is the second incident, the first being on April 29th, 202
Construction work to retrofit the Government Industrial School (GIS) at Dodds, St Philip to make provision for the transfer of females from Barrows, St Lucy will be completed by September 9. The work will include the fitting of security cameras at the facility.During a tour of the $1.4 million renovation project on Tuesday, Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams said he was pleased with the progress of the project.He reiterated that once the girls are moved from Barrows to the retrofitted facility which they will share with the boys, they are expected to benefit from better accommodations and have access to programmes that are more suited to their needs.“This is a fantastic facility. Out here feels different to St Lucy. The buildings look different, the resources we will put in place are different; the opportunities we will present are different.“We want to have a fresh start on the 9th of September; fresh start, fresh curriculum, fresh outlook, fresh programmes,