PEP exams at St Mary school hang in balance due to inclement weather
Published:Wednesday | June 5, 2024 | 12:12 AMGareth Davis Sr/Gleaner Writer
ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary:
A decision is to be made this morning as to whether students scheduled to sit the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) five exams at Baxter’s Primary in St Mary will be able to do so amid inclement weather affecting the area.
On Tuesday, dozens of students and teachers were marooned for the better part of three hours after heavy rains inundated a ford along the roadway in the vicinity of the school, rendering it impassable to vehicular traffic and pedestrians.
Principal Sherene Harris told The Gleaner on Tuesday afternoon that although the rains had eased a little, there was still uncertainty surrounding today’s scheduled tests.
She said that on Tuesday, even large vehicles such as trucks and even a tractor were unable to access the roadway via the ford as the water level rose alarmingly high, leaving students and teachers stranded at the school.
“When I realised that it was raining, I suggested to [a] teacher that we [should] dismiss and we called the taxis and they were in the process of transporting the students. When one of the taxi [drivers] was coming back, he said, ‘Miss, we can’t go back across because it is impassable’,” she pointed out.
“So we were there for about an hour and a half. Trucks were there, tractors, along with some other vehicles, but nothing could go across,” Harris told The Gleaner.
BRIDGE IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION
She said the alternative bridge is in a deplorable state and no one can walk across. As such, the ford was being utilised for travel.
“I could not believe that so much water came down from the hills. I am hoping that the bridge can be repaired to at least allow for pedestrians to go across,” said the principal. “I’d hate to think what would happen if someone were to get sick.
“The thing is that whenever it rains heavily in the hills, we are affected. I am worried about [Wednesday] because we have the PEP five exams scheduled for [Wednesday] and Thursday. So we are concerned at this time as ... there is a level of uncertainty in regard to the weather,” she added.
Meanwhile, St Mary South Eastern Member of Parliament Dr Norman Dunn said that the flooding of the ford, which was constructed as an alternative to an abandoned bridge, is a clear indication that a replacement bridge is needed.
“I understand the fear, concern, and anxiety of residents in that area, who are affected by the flooded roadway,” he told The Gleaner.
“The bridge fell into a state of disrepair about 25 years ago, and having learned about the plight faced by residents, I have been lobbying for a new bridge to replace the old one. The community of Baxter’s Mountain is accessible via a ford, which I built about five years ago as an alternative,” he said.