ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A critical security project at Naggo Head Primary School remains in bureaucratic limbo despite allocated funding, prompting urgent calls for action from local officials. Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central, Alando Terrelonge, has intensified pressure on municipal authorities to immediately approve long-delayed plans for constructing a perimeter security wall.
The project, which has languished for over two years despite more than $40 million in allocated funds from the Ministry of Education, faces ongoing delays at the municipal corporation level. Terrelonge expressed grave concerns about the council’s inaction, emphasizing that student and staff safety should transcend political considerations.
“The municipal council’s delay is profoundly concerning,” Terrelonge stated in an official release. “I reiterate my call for the mayor to act decisively in approving these plans. We cannot await a tragedy affecting students or teachers before taking action. This security infrastructure must be constructed without further delay.”
The urgency is underscored by multiple security breaches documented in recent years. Naggo Head Primary School, serving hundreds of students in Portmore, currently lacks proper perimeter protection, enabling unauthorized access to school grounds.
Principal Andria Givans provided disturbing details of the security challenges: “The absence of proper perimeter security continues to expose our vulnerability. We’ve experienced numerous incidents involving unauthorized individuals disrupting classes and school events. During our February sports day, I faced verbal attacks and threats. We’ve dealt with mentally unstable individuals throwing stones at teachers and students, and in 2022, gangs entered campus armed with knives, causing widespread panic and trauma.”
The school has also suffered repeated break-ins and thefts during the 2024-2025 academic year, including stolen security cameras, wall fans, chairs, and classroom furniture.
Councillor Damara Lawson of the Southboro Division emphasized the project’s critical importance: “Naggo Head Primary serves as a central institution for our communities. Hundreds of students, parents, and teachers depend on having safe, secure school grounds. This perimeter wall will dramatically enhance safety and protect school facilities.”
All stakeholders continue to advocate for immediate approval to utilize the allocated funds and address the pressing security concerns threatening the school community.