Moonilal tells govt: Finish Ramai Trace Hindu School

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal has written to the Government requesting that a primary school, named after him in his constituency, be completed.

He addressed the two-page letter to Finance Minister Colm Imbert saying he wrote it on behalf of students and PTA members of the Dr Roodal Moonilal Ramai Trace Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Primary School in Debe.

Moonilal is appealing for the ministry "to end the misery of 201 students" by making the budgetary provision to complete and facilitate the opening of the school. Budget Day is next Monday (October 5).

The Opposition MP confirmed to Newsday that he sent the letter on Monday.

The current covid19 period, Moonilal said, is the opportune time to get this done since students are home owing to the public health regulations.

The original building was demolished a few years ago. Construction of the new school began in 2015. Since then, the school has been left 95 per cent completed and is yet to be opened.

"For the past five years, over 200 students are forced to journey for as long as one hour to makeshift classes at a Hindu temple.

"Students are crammed into improvised facilities at the temple at Penal Rock Road, with insufficient washrooms and a jam-packed learning environment which has caused several students to fall ill."

Moonilal recalled that there have been were several public protests/demonstrations. In November 2016, there was a placard protest at Debe, and another outside Parliament in March 2017.

There was also a four-day protest at Ramai Trace in January 2018, and a six-mile march from Ramai Trace to San Fernando to deliver a petition to the Education Ministry in June 2019.

"Despite these protests and numerous promises to complete the school by former minister of education Anthony Garcia and former minister in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis, the school has not been completed leading to the suffering and distress of innocent students."

In 2013, under the People’s Partnership administration, the Ramai Trace Hindu Primary School was renamed in Moonilal’s honour.