The student allegedly had 21 packets of marijuana wrapped up in tiny pieces of foil that were stashed in his school backpack, school officials confirmed to the Nassau Guardian yesterday.
Principal of H.O. Nash Junior High School, Franklin Lightbourn, told The Guardian that other students in the boy’s eighth-grade class alerted school officials to the situation. “He came to school [Monday] morning and was in class, when he attempted to tell one or two of the students in his class [about the drugs],” Mr Lightbourn said. “Someone reported him to the teacher and he calmly went out of the classroom [escorted] by the police, who were on duty as a part of the school policing programme.” Mr Lightbourn said it was uncertain at the time if other students had bought any of the drugs, as none of the other students could actually confirm if he had sold much of his supply to anyone, during a questioning period after the incident. The principal added that he doubted whether the student, whom he admitted the school has also had other problems with, had had much time to try and distribute the substance before he was caught. “From all indications, it was only brought onto the campus (Monday) and before the end of the second period, he was already caught,” said Mr Lightbourn. “[The drugs] were taken off [the school’s campus] in less than two hours.”
A school official at H.O. Nash who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that the youngster had only a few of the drug packets in his school bag, but his entire supply was hidden next door.
The source also alleged that the student was selling the pre-packaged marijuana to the students for anywhere from $3 to $5 a packet and that his total stash was rumoured to be worth more than $300.
However, Principal Lightbourn said he did not know anything about the findings on nearby property nor did he think the drugs found could be worth that much. Up to press time last night, Police could not confirm whether the school official’s allegation was true.
Principal Lightbourn said he did not know what would be done with the student in regard to whether he would be allowed back in school. He said that that decision would be made by the relevant judicial authorities. But, he did say that the boy’s parents had been notified and that the police had taken him into custody.
Mr Lightbourn said the public should not let this one incident tarnish the reputation of the entire school, as there were some very intelligent students among the population. “This is an isolated case, just one single case,” said Mr Lightbourn. “I have been there for six years now and this is the first time we have had a student trying to deal drugs on campus.”
However, he did admit that there were a few times in the past where students were found with “one or two little pieces on them.” Mr Lightbourn stressed that this incident was not indicative of the type of school that H.O. Nash is today. He noted that the school has an anti-drug initiative, where members of the guidance and family life departments work together with The Bahamas National Drug Council, which plans to set up an anti-drug unit in a school-wide programme in order to combat drug use among the nation’s youth.
Mr Lightbourn said that he and the other school authorities would be addressing the issue of drug use with all 36 classes of students.
By: INDERIA SAUNDERS, The Nassau Guardian
