Education Department says NO GUN, reports on incident at A. Louise Garland-Thomas High

#TurksandCaicos, June 12, 2023 – The Education Department of the Ministry of Education would like to assure the public that regarding the situation at A. Louise Garland Thomas High School on Friday, the 10th of June, no guns were involved, and the school initiated the lockdown.

Shortly after 1 pm on Friday, the 10th of June 2023, having received information of the likelihood of an occurrence that could endanger students and others on the compound, the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School activated its Critical Incident Management Plan, which outlines their safety and security protocols. As part of its protocol, any perceived threat can call for the principal to ‘lock down’ the school.

The compound was locked down, the police were called for assistance, security, members of the administration, and teachers worked together to ensure that the compound was not breached and that students were kept calm and safe.

The police, upon arriving, apprehended potential threats and secured the compound before assisting with the orderly and safe loading of the buses and the departure of the students.

The Minister of Education, Honourable Rachel Taylor, and other Ministry Officials held a debriefing with the Principal and her Critical Incident Management Team.

We understand that some parents were concerned about the absence of the situation’s particulars unfolding. However, allowing access to the compound before it was secured may have interfered with the standard protocols.