Nevis: Premier Brantley condemns fire ‘attack’ at Primary School

St Kitts and Nevis: While condemning the fire at the , Minister of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, as well as Premier of Nevis – Mark Brantley, stated that it is an ‘attack’ on the students, teachers, support staff and entire community.

While criticizing the act, he stated, “I condemn unreservedly this willful attack on the students, teachers, support staff and entire community of the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School by the burning of the school.”

He further mentioned that there is no room for such acts in St Kitts and Nevis and demanded a strict probe into the matter.

“These criminal acts must be broadly condemned, and all who have information should be encouraged to contact the Police immediately. There is no room in St Kitts and Nevis for these wanton acts of criminality,” Premier of Nevis mentioned.

Earlier, Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris expressed concern and mentioned, “I am deeply saddened to hear that the fire at Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School was no accident but rather started maliciously.

The children’s education will now be affected. Those children will also be sad to know that persons who should play a role in protecting and upholding their lives chose instead to destroy their place of learning.

I urge anyone who has information that may help the Police with their enquiries to step forward now. Our country’s motto encourages us to place “Country Above Self” Let’s do just that and put our children’s interests first by bringing to task the culprits, who through their actions, have harmed them.”

The Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force started investigating a fire at the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School in Molineaux on March 19, 2022.

St Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services Department in Tabernacle responded to a fire report at the school just before 10 PM on March 18, 2022. When the Fire Officers arrived at the school, they met several classrooms engulfed in flames. The officers acted quickly to extinguish the fire. The classrooms from Kindergarten to grade five and their contents were destroyed.

Personnel from the Forensic Department visited and processed the scene.