School robbed again

Belize’s schools find it hard enough to get the equipment they need, but their efforts to provide for the students are made even more difficult when school property is stolen. Today the Principal of St. Luke Methodist Primary School is appealing to the community to help them recover something stolen from the school yesterday.

St. Luke Methodist Primary School on Mahogany Street has been broken into several times over the last few years. According to Lavern Andrewin, a teacher at the school, they have tried just about everything they could afford to keep the thieves away, but nothing has seemed to work.

Lavern Andrewin, Teacher, St. Luke Methodist Primary School

“Well we have tried putting bars, we are trying to secure the school. We have tried getting a watchman but it was a difficult thing that the school doesn’t have the kind of financing we would need you know to pay a watchman.”

On Thursday night thieves broke in through the ceiling of an upper division classroom and stole the tape recorder. According to Andrewin, who also directs the school’s choir, the valuable equipment, which was used by her group, was recently purchased to replace one that was stolen last summer.

Lavern Andrewin

“Right now we have lost a tape recorder and that is something that the choir uses a lot and as you might have noticed, the choir has really been coming along well and we need the tape recorder because that is something that we rely on.”

Huldah Neal, principal of the Upper Division says because the school caters to children who are unable to attend more privileged schools in Belize, break-ins greatly affect the essential service they give to these neighborhoods.

Huldah Neal, Principal, St. Luke Methodist Primary School

“I would like to make an appeal probably to the neighborhood, to the people living in this area, that if they see anything suspicious on the premises after hours, to probably call the police. Please, if they see these people selling these things don’t buy them because if the thieves don’t have anybody to buy these things, they will stop their stealing.”

If you would like to assist the staff and students of St. Luke Methodist School, you can call 24314.