Panday tells parents don't pay power bills for schools

A controversy is building in Trinidad and Tobago over the payment of utility charges at denominational schools.

Last week opposition Senator M.F. Rahman told Parliament that schools are asking parents to help raise funds to pay power bills. And the principal of the Mohess Road Hindu School has confirmed that parents have offered to contribute $20 a month to help pay the power bill, which has climbed from $900 a month to $3,000 a month.

In a news release Monday opposition leader Basdeo Panday advised parents to do no such thing.

“It is unfair for the government to fritter away public funds behind obscene excesses such as summits and luxury cars, and in corruption riddled contracts for their friends and families, while children must sell cakes and wash cars to prevent electricity and water from being cut at schools,” Panday said.

“Nothing is wrong with putting a hand towards the upkeep of schools, but the government must not be allowed to evade its responsibilities especially when ministers are telling the population that there is no economic crisis and then spending tax payers’ money like there is no tomorrow", the former prime minister added.

He urged parents across the country to stand firm and demand that government hold its end of the social contract. "People must understand that when the government collects taxes its first responsibility is to use that money to provide the services needed by citizens", he said.

Panday said, “If citizens have to pay separately for healthcare, education, road repair, drinking water and private security patrols in their villages, then they should stop paying taxes and use that money to pay for those services.”

He said denominational school boards have been lobbying for an increase in funding from the government to cover increased maintenance costs and so far the government has refused to put provide additional funds. He said schools are unable to pay for utilities such as electricity and some "are even rationing chalk".

Panday noted that while government has allocated funding for education, schools are complaining that these funds are not being disbursed.

The Association of Denominational School Boards says the education Ministry has not told the boards to pay electricity bill for their schools. But spokesman Satnarine Maharaj, who is also the head of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), said the ministry is yet to respond to pleas for an increase in grants.

He noted that the government pays the bills for secondary schools and wondered why it won't do the same for the primary schools.