Cops called amid dispute over school playground

Playground equipment that was not approved by the government was removed from the grounds of Ivan Dawson Primary School last week following a confrontation between police and District Two Representative Mitch Turnbull.

The public first learned of the spat from online videos of police speaking to the opposition member on Jan. 28 as he tried to convince them to compromise and leave the equipment in place.

“I understand that you have your policy, but let us work collaboratively together, because it is for the Cane Garden Bay community and the students of Ivan Dawson Primary School,” Mr. Turnbull told the police.

But in a video statement posted Friday, Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sharie de Castro defended the decision to remove the equipment, which she said was purchased by a donor who declined to be identified as required by the ministry’s donation policy.

“The ministry must know the donor and review the required documentation to review and approve any donation,” Ms. de Castro said. “Donors’ names may be withheld from the public if requested.”

Announcement

She also noted that Mr. Turnbull had publicly announced last July that a playground would be donated to Ivan Dawson Primary School.

The ministry had not been consulted prior to this announcement, but it welcomed the possibility of a donation, she said.

Mr. Turnbull, though, then said he was unable to disclose the identity of the donor — rendering the project unable to proceed under the donation policy, according to the minister.

She added that the policy’s requirements were shared with Mr. Turnbull as early as Sept. 3, but he did not provide the needed documentation despite requests from the ministry.

Once the donor is identified and proper documentation is filed, Ms. de Castro maintained, the ministry is willing to have a licensed installation specialist assess the equipment and determine whether it meets the required safety standards.

Meanwhile, she said, the government has been working on its own plan to replace and repair playgrounds across the territory under the Recovery to Development Plan adopted after Hurricane Irma.

As part of the playground initiative, which was put into effect about three years ago, funds were allocated in this year’s budget for the final two playground recovery sites, which include Ivan Dawson Primary School, according to the minister.

Not authorised

She added that the playground equipment from Mr. Turnbull’s donor was delivered after school hours on Jan. 27 without the ministry’s knowledge or authorisation. Items were also left exposed to the elements, which raised safety and liability concerns, she said.

EYAS Ministry Permanent Secretary Marcia Potter tried to contact Mr. Turnbull on the morning of Jan. 28 but did not reach him, and her call was never returned, according to Ms. de Castro. Authorities, she said, were therefore called to respond.

“For these reasons, the ministry took the responsible step to have the equipment removed from the school property,” said Ms. de Castro, who acknowledged that she wasn’t at the school on the day of the delivery.

The minister also claimed that during the removal process, Mr. Turnbull blocked the school’s only exit and entrance with his vehicle.

He was repeatedly asked to move and refused, Ms. de Castro said.

Mr. Turnbull, however, eventually relented and moved his vehicle so the playground equipment could be removed.

A video circulated Jan. 28 shows the equipment leaving the school on a flatbed truck.

Turnbull’s story

In a statement provided to the Beacon, Mr. Turnbull, who represents Cane Garden Bay, told a different story, saying he had tried to contact the minister about the playground equipment repeatedly via WhatsApp calls and messages, by email, and through her colleagues in the ministry.

“I would say that I endeavoured after a pledge was made on July 5 to bring a playground and have one purchased through donorship for the Ivan Dawson Primary School,” he said, adding, “I followed through on that delivery.”

He acknowledged that he did not follow protocol exactly but said he had good intentions and his actions did not merit the severity of the ministry’s response.

“We saw the actions that took place on [Jan. 28], which ended with calling the police on a fellow member of the House of Assembly for something that is beneficial to the children,” he said. “My statement is simply you can’t lead people if you don’t love them, and I am not interested in doing anything except serving my community.”

He added that leadership is about “inspiration, not intimidation.”

‘It is about safety’

Ms. de Castro, however, denied that the issue was “about politics.” “It is about children; it is about safety,” she said in her statement. “It is about doing things the right way.”

She reiterated that the school will receive a playground this year.

“Installations will be done during school breaks for safety,” she said. “The ministry remains open to discussions about alternative placements of the playground, as suggested by the member.”