Petition Launched Calling For Dismissal Of Hampton Principal

The Gleaner
January 09, 2017

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20170109/petition-launched-calling-dismissal-hampton-principal

Heather Murray

Principal of the Hampton School Heather Murray (right) smiles as Moravian minister Rupert Clarke (left) is led away from the St Elizabeth Parish Court yesterday.

A group calling itself Jamaicans United Against Domestic Violence and Child Abuse has started a petition calling for the dismissal of the principal of the Hampton School over her actions last week at the bail hearing of the Moravian pastor on sex charges.

Heather Murray is reported to have attempted to block a Gleaner photographer trying to capture images of the 64-year-old pastor Rupert Clarke, as he left court.

Before attempting the block the photographer, Murray sought to intervene in an interview between a Gleaner reporter and Moravian minister, Robert Patmore outside the courthouse.

In a statement last week, Murray said she went to court to support the wife of the pastor.

However, it has since emerged that the wife was not at court.

The chairman of the Board of the Hampton School Trevor Blake, says Clarke was too devastated to attend.

He also said Murray denied attempting to block the media.

However, in footage aired on Television Jamaica, Murray is heard telling the videographer "Take the Hampton Principal instead".

It's because of these inconsistencies, that the group Jamaicans United Against Domestic Violence and Child Abuse wants Murray to resign.

The petition has named the decision makers as the Education Minister Ruel Reid, the minister with responsibility for gender affairs Olivia Grange, Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison, and the Board of Trustees of Hampton School.

The group wants them to act swiftly to restore the people's trust in leaders of institutions of learning, leaders of the church and the Government of Jamaica.