Arson is suspected in the wake of a fire that caused extensive damage to the office of C.C. Sweeting Senior High School principal Delores Ingraham early Sunday morning.
According to police press liaison officer, Chief Supt. Hulan Hanna, around 3:50 a.m. a person or persons burglarized the administrative building, where the principal’s office is located upstairs. He said the burglar(s) gained entry through the western ground level door of the building, which was secured by a metal security gate.
“Once on the inside, they forcefully removed another metal gate and were able to get into the principal’s office and set it ablaze. This office has been extensively damaged by heat, water and fire and investigations will continue,” Supt Hanna said.
When The Guardian news team arrived at C.C. Sweeting on College Ave. Oakes Field, around 10 a.m., police and fire officials had already left the scene, but education officers were investigating the area, including Permanent Secretary Creswell Sturrup and District Superintendent Howard Newbold.
However, Mrs Ingraham, the wife of former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, was said to have just left the campus, and up press time on Sunday, attempts to reach her for comment proved fruitless.
According to Mr Sturrup, the fire was restricted to the inside of the administration building with the furniture sustaining the most damage. He noted however, that it was too early to estimate the total cost to replace damaged items, and the structure of the building also had to be assessed. The fire was fully contained by 6:00 a.m. on Sunday and there was no loss of records and no files were damaged, he said. Examinations will remain on schedule with classes resume today as usual, he said.
Meanwhile, an attempt was made by this reporter to inspect the inside portion of the building, but this was only partially done, as the stench of smoke prevented normal breathing. However, it was obvious that thick soot had damaged the interior walls of the building and the water-soaked furniture would have to be discarded. The fire had also damaged several panes of windows in the principal’s office and the once white tiled floors were covered in smoke residue.
Upon further investigation of the area of entry at the rear of the building, it appeared that the burglars had pulled the entire padlocked gate out of the concrete wall, as two gaping holes were visible. A slab of plywood was placed over the door to secure the entrance. Mr Sturrup said that security and surveillance of the school was expected to be intensified on Sunday night and tonight.
According to the Education Permanent Secretary, security officers were on campus when the fire erupted, but they were only posted at the front of the campus and did not hear anything until they discovered the flames and smelled smoke. Three security officers are rotated between three schools in the Oakes Field area, he advised, as there is a shortage of security personnel at all government schools in the capital.
“The need for extra security is increasing and the Ministry is in the process of increasing and undertaking methods to increase the amount of officers and also train those existing officers. We have also started the process of implementing electronic alarm systems at four schools,” Mr Sturrup said. It will cost some $1.5 million over the next two years to have all schools in New Providence fully secured, he said, adding that, “We also hope to hire an additional 125 officers within the next two years, as well as engage 40 Guidance Counselors next school year.”
By: TAMARA McKENZIE, The Nassau Guardian
