Alexandra twist

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL of The Alexandra School, Beverley Neblett-Lashley, during testimony at yesterday’s hearing. (Lennox Devonish)

By RICKY JORDAN | Sat, August 11, 2012 - 12:12 AM

A HANDWRITTEN DOCUMENT that enhanced the academic report of an Alexandra fifth former more than eight years ago was yesterday described as evidence that could be damaging to principal Jeff Broomes at the Commission of Inquiry into the Speightstown, St Peter school.

In new evidence revealed by Deputy Principal Beverley Neblett-Lashley before a hushed audience in the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Complex, the handwritten document of outstanding grades reflecting a five-year period was in stark opposition to the school’s official record, which showed that the student, who only spent a year at Alexandra, had failed in several subjects.

The handwritten report was also shown, via Neblett-Lashley’s testimony on the witness stand and a written statement from the principal’s now-retired secretary Merlene Sealy, to be the original draft of a transcript typed by Sealy on the principal’s instructions on the student’s behalf.

Sealy, who retired in 2004, must now appear before the commission on Monday and face questioning by Broomes’ lawyers since, according to Commissioner Frederick Waterman, yesterday’s evidence “could be damaging to Mr Broomes, and in fairness to him, Ms Sealy should be summoned” to testify.

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Posted by yogi Ni 10 months, 1 week ago: One question: Did Ms.Neblett-Lashley report this very inappropriate behaviour to the Ministry of Education when it first occuered? If she did not, she is much more culpable than Mr. Broomes.

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Posted by c holder 10 months, 1 week ago: All of these grown people should have started by having simple adult conversations to discuss their different perspectives with open minds.
Failing that, they should have taken appropriate, formal measures to report whatever THEY perceived to be wrongdoing.
The jury is out on what is really true.
But Mr. Broomes clearly acted within his own conscience and beliefs whereas board members and staffers retreated by their own admission.
So they have indicted themselves as moral cowards.
And this systemic failure- including the inaction by the Ministry- has produced this $600 000 drain from the taxpayers' purse.
Someone has to be held accountable for this wastage.