Stabroek News
October 1, 2001

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has advised on the allegations pertaining to nine-year-old Nikesha Garra-way of Enterprise Primary and 13-year-old Kellon Felix of Vryman's Erven Junior High, both of whom were reportedly beaten and injured by teachers during the last academic year.

However, the police are still to take action based on the recommendations.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Roxanne George told Stabroek News on Thursday that the DPP had returned the files of both students with the necessary advice. She did not say what had been advised.

George noted that the advice on Felix's matter was provided on August 13, and his file subsequently returned to the police, while Garraway's was returned "either last week or the week before". She did not know the exact date but said that it should be in the police system at present.

Relatives of both Garraway and Felix have been in regular contact with the police and this newspaper making enquiries as they said there seemed to be no movement in the matters.

Both children were transferred at the start of the new academic year to different schools at the request of their parents. Both schools are within the area where they live.

Garraway, was flogged by a teacher with a bamboo rod and suffered a broken collar bone. This incident occurred exactly four months ago. At the time the teacher had been substituting for another who was absent.

When Stabroek News visited Garraway at her home some days after she had been beaten, there were still marks of violence evident on her legs where she had been flogged.

In Felix's case, which occurred on June 11, he suffered a broken elbow.

While the teacher in Garraway's case was sent on leave with pay, pending the outcome of the probe, Stabroek News understands that the teacher in Felix's matter was never sent on leave and was still on duty. (Miranda La Rose)