PM Harris expresses concern over fire at Primary School

St Kitts & Nevis: Dr Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of the twin-island federation, has expressed deep concern over the fire incident at the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School.

Prime Minister Timothy Harris 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 urges 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,” PM stated.

Prime Minister further stated that the Police force had been continuously working to find out the main culprit or reason behind the incident.

Andre Mitchell, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), went to the incident site, along with his team of senior investigators. Following the visit, ACP termed the fire at the school campus as a “malicious act”.

Regarding the matter, ACP Mitchell mentioned, “As per the preliminary information collected by the investigation team, the fire wasn’t an accident. We have found some areas where several fires were lit”.

“I express dismay that someone planned to damage an institution of learning that caters to our children. Our investigation team will follow strict and vigorous probe to bring justice,” he added.

On March 20, 2022 (Monday), the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force informed that it has been offering a reward of EC$35,000 for information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of the person(s) responsible for the fire at the Joshua Obadiah Williams Primary School.

The Investigation team has further asked the person to share all the possible information regarding the matter with the Tabernacle Police Station 465-7227, their nearest Police Station or the crime hotline at 707. The team further assured that the information could be given anonymously.

Furthermore, the investigations into the matter are still on.