Lewd signs pulled down from school entrance

Robert Hill, town clerk at the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC), yesterday said all of the signs promoting an X-rated adult show in the Corporate Area later this month have been removed.

The signs endorsed a topless orgy at a popular entertainment spot in Kingston, and caused uproar from authorities, staff and parents after two of the signs were placed at the entrance to the Alpha Primary School on South Camp Road in Kingston.

"Yes, we did," confirmed Hill, when asked if all the signs had been removed.

The town clerk could not say how many of the vulgar signs were taken down and from what locations around Kingston and St Andrew.

He noted, however, that the signs, at least five seen by The Sunday Gleaner news team during a tour of South Camp Road and its environs last week, were erected illegally, and that they constituted a public offence.

"We know nothing about it, and if we know nothing about it, then it is not legal. So we will be moving to take them down," said Hill during an interview with The Gleaner last week.

PERSONAL VISIT

Yesterday, Education Minister Ruel Reid made sure that the lewd signs were removed from the entrance to the Alpha Primary School during a personal visit to the institution, the entrance of which also serves teenage students at the Convent of Mercy (Alpha Academy).

"Minister Reid met with the principal, several members of staff and parents, along with students. He expressed appreciation to the staff for their contribution to education and encouraged parents to continue supporting the school," read a release from the Ministry of Education.

On Saturday, Floyd Green, state minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, also expressed shock at the signs.

"We need to ensure that there is age-appropriate material around our children and schools. As people, we need to be more sensitive about messages we are giving to our children," he said.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com