No firm decision has yet been made on whether the Rose Hill R.C. School will be relocated after rapid gunfire from nearby gang activity forced students and teachers to crouch to the ground in fear earlier this week.

A team of government officials, including the Ministers and National Security and Education, visited the school on Thursday to assess the security requirements for the building.

National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says police and army personnel will be stationed outside the school once classes resume on Monday.

“I am advised from the authority for the school Mr. Jacob, that Monday would not have been the first time that such a traumatic event would have taken place,” Hinds said.

“While the police are very active in the neighbourhood, the police cannot be everywhere at every time. As soon as they go about their routine patrols and turn to go somewhere else, the youngsters with guns take the opportunity to bark them out. It means therefore, that different types of crimes sometimes need different types of policing. It requires a multifaceted approach to restore safety and security in this community and the larger community of Laventille, where the problem of gang violence has been experienced on an ongoing basis,” he added.

 Education Minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has said counselling services are being made available to students and teachers who were left traumatized by the incident. 

Meanwhile, TTUTA President Martin Lum Kin praised teachers of the Rose Hill R.C. School, who got into quick action on Monday to keep students calm and safe as gunshots rang out near the compound.

The TTUTA President reaffirmed the union stands ready to work alongside other education stakeholders to take back the nation’s schools.