MoE Tackles Pigeon Infestation at Schools – Minister Parag

PRESS RELEASE ||

The Ministry of Education has engaged the services of a contractor that specializes in pigeon control, mitigation, and proofing as a means of further addressing a recurring pigeon infestation at several schools along the East Coast of Demerara.

This was announced earlier today by Hon. Sonia Parag, Minister of Education during site visits to some of the affected schools, beginning with the Beterverwagting Primary School, which will be thoroughly pressure-washed and outfitted with a specific type of galvanized mesh to keep the birds out.

A particular type of gel treatment, Minister Parag said, will also be applied onto the roof of the school building to prevent the birds from lingering.

“Previously I had said that we wanted children to be in school on Monday,” Minister Parag acknowledged. However, given the recurring nature of the problem, particularly in communities nearby to Pigeon Island, a more stringent approach is being taken.

Meanwhile, following consultations with the school’s administration and its Parent/Teachers Association (PTA), a decision was taken for the Grade Six pupils to return to the school on Monday, while the others would be given worksheets to complete from home until the situation is fully under control.

Minister indicated at every effort is being made to minimize the period that children would have to be away from school.

“For this particular issue, given that it’s several schools, we are looking at what we can do long-term, as a government and as the Ministry of Education,” Minister Parag noted.

The Education Minister has instructed too that the school closure for the Christmas period be used to deep clean all affected schools.

Curbing the infestation may also require some behavioural changes within the community itself, as was observed by officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who also accompanied Minister Parag on the site visits.

“Residents are feeding the pigeons in the vicinity of the school, and this is contributing to the bird population getting out of control,” said Ms. Michel Swanston Nurse, Head of the Technical Services Department (Air, Noise and Radiation) of the EPA.

She reasoned that “while it may seem kind to feed them, it results in droppings from these birds in excessive amounts." Birds, Ms. Swanston Nurse warned, generally become a pest.

She said the EPA would also be working with the Guyana Wildlife Management and Conservation Commission to raise awareness, especially in areas prone to pigeon infestations.

Minister Parag is hopeful that eventually, the issue will be in the past, that too, without causing any serious harm to the birds.

“This is a problem, that has been explained to me, will not go away overnight, but it will go away, hopefully within a short space of time, and over time, it will continue to reduce,” Minister Parag added.

Minister Parag also visited the Annandale and Golden Grove Secondary Schools which have similar issues.

“As we move through the different schools, we are going to engage the necessary stakeholders, so that we are on the same page when it comes to the upgrades and developments that need to happen in the schools,” Minister Parag said, committing to visiting schools across all regions.

Minister Parag was accompanied on her visit by Chief Education Officer, Mr. Saddam Hussain; Deputy Chief Education Officer, Administration, Ms. Tiffany Harvey; recently-elected Regional Chairman, Mr. Clemsford Belgrave; Regional Education Officer, Ms. Kean Adams; District Education Officer, Ms. Caroline Daniels; the Head teacher, Mr. Gidel Austin; and PTA representative Alvin McCurdy of the BV Primary School.