Lost opportunity for meaningful BHS aquifer discussion; "You sold out the children" soothes former principal

Friday, 31st May 2019

Teacher at the Saddlers Secondary School and former assistant secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Shez Dore-Tyson, is of the view that a golden opportunity was lost Wednesday night for meaningful discussion on the proposed construction of the multi-million dollar new Basseterre High School on the Basseterre Valley Aquifer "that would affect posterity and our survival as a people."

"Why couldn't the THUG include experts from both sides of the argument? When are we going to learn? Matters like these transcend politics and personal gain," said Shez-Dore in a posting on her FaceBook Page on Thursday night.

"The experts predict that the next world war would be over fresh water and from all observations it may have started last night in St Kitts and Nevis," said Shez-Dore.

She noted while it is quite clear that it is not worth the risk of constructing the multi-million dollar new BHS on the aquifer the "rudely and disrespectfully managed forum allotted half-hour slot for citizens response, clearly demonstrated the public's disapproval of the school on the aquifer." Shez-Dore noted that the forum not only started 45 minutes late, but two hours were used by the government hand-picked "experts to make presentations who tried to convince the ordinary citizens that the aquifer will not suffer 'TOO MUCH' damage from the new school, but the citizens didn't buy it."

Nonetheless, the real drama occurred after the townhall meeting, said Shez-Dore, who pointed out that "one comment from a displeased citizen touched the uncomfortable nerve of the former Principal of the school (Carleen Henry Morton) and all hell broke lose."

"'You sold out the children,' the gentleman yelled and videos circulating on social media showed her husband (Morton) giving a salavia shower in her defense and on the verge of bursting a blood vessel while his wife allegedly attempted to rain (verbal) blows and words on the shouter in an effort to soothe her conscience," said Shez-Dore.

"Curse for curse, emotions ran helter-skelter and left common sense behind with the duo forgetting the evidence of their success from the alleged lies. The video on Thursday morning showed the public yapping at their heels and only the trembling hand of a supporting intervener prevented an all-out war," she noted.

As principal of the Basseterre High School and deputy president of the St Kitts Teachers Union, Morton made a promise to the over 800 students that she would never abandon them.

But when the new school year began in September 2015 and six months after the Team Unity assumed the government, Mrs Morton never returned to the BHS. She was appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Trade headed by her

brother in law, the Hon Lindsay Grant.

Her husband, Charles, recently retired from Scotia Bank to become manager of the National Housing Corporation (NHC).