'POOR EXCUSE': PNP councillor Kari Douglas reiterates call for Hampton principal to be fired

Loop
January 06, 2017

http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/poor-excuse-pnp-councillor-kari-douglas-reiterates-call-hampton-principal-be-fired

Outspoken councillor for the Trafalgar Division in St Andrew, the PNP's Kari Douglas on Friday reiterated her call for Hampton High principal Heather Murray to be fired or resign after her appearance at a bail hearing for an accused child molester.

Douglas, in a media release, said she has taken note of media reports concerning the controversial attendance of Murray at a bail hearing for 64-year-old Moravian pastor, Rupert Clarke, in the St Elizabeth Parish Court. Pastor Clarke was charged on Tuesday after being allegedly caught in a compromising position in his car with a 15-year-old girl in Austin district, St Elizabeth.

Douglas, who had earlier called for Murray's dismissal via Facebook, said she is troubled by the developments and finds unsatisfactory, Murray’s ‘explanation’ that she merely attended Court in support of her friend who’s the wife of the accused man.

The Councilor for the Trafalgar Division said she also finds deeply troubling that Murray has failed to address several reports which indicate that she attempted to block photographs being taken by the media of the accused child abuser.

Commenting, Councilor Douglas said, “for far too long, communities and especially so people in society who should know better have sent both overt and tacit signals of support for persons accused of sexually molesting our children. I have seen in my division and across the country cases where little girls who are being abused are fearful of speaking out because the abuser receives support from authority figures. Mrs. Murray’s explanation for her attendance at Court is unsatisfactory and should be rejected.”

Councilor Douglas further commented that, “in the context of the sad and prevailing circumstances in many of our communities and with consideration for the sensitive position which she holds, Mrs Murray should resign immediately or be sacked for her grave error of judgement which has rendered her unfit to lead a school, especially so an all girls institution."

Clarke is scheduled to return to the St Elizabeth Parish Court on February 13.

In respect of the accused man, Councilor Douglas said she’s mindful that all accused are to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and nothing should be done to interference with his right to a fair trial. Councilor Douglas commented that should he be convicted, the Minister of Religion should face the maximum available punishment.