DLP: Dr. Denny should apologise for comments made to students

THE Democratic Labour Party has issued an official response, condemning comments to which they are opposed, which they say were made recently to students, by Director of Education Reform, Dr. Idamay Denny.

The response was issued by Neil Marshall, Democratic Labour Party Spokesperson on Education.

“Recently, the country had a most regrettable experience, having watched a clip circulating on social media where the Director of Education Reform, Dr. Idamay Denny, was seen addressing children from various primary schools, particularly those in Infants A and B via a Zoom presentation. It is with a sense of outrage and disappointment that I watched that video in which Dr. Denny was berating those students to ‘tell your parents they need to do what is necessary to get you back into school!’” Marshall commented.

“In doing so, she encouraged children to confront their parents and siblings about their vaccination status and blamed unvaccinated parents and siblings for the inadequate online schooling situation,” he continued.

Marshall stressed, “The Democratic Labour Party supports the vaccination initiative. Our Party Leader Verla De Peiza is on record almost ad nauseam in saying that the party fully supports the Government’s efforts to have as many Barbadians vaccinated against COVID-19 and continues to encourage all eligible persons to get vaccinated. Notwithstanding this policy position, we also respect the right of a person not to be vaccinated, particularly for religious and health reasons.

“What we do not support is Dr. Denny’s misguided approach of imprinting on young minds and placing blame on parents for any future shortcomings in their development. As parents, we know that this was in poor taste and unethical. As the Director of Education Reform, being an ‘influencer’ on vaccination is not part of her responsibilities. Dr. Denny should therefore concentrate her efforts on education reform where an antiquated system is the major culprit contributing to the inadequacies in student development, not the vaccination status of a parent,” the DLP’s Spokesperson on Education asserted.

Marshall went further by stating that Dr. Denny, the Minister of Education and the Prime Minister as having responsibility for the management of this pandemic, and in whose name Dr. Denny made her comments, should publicly apologise for actions that many have deemed outrageous.

In another section of the press, it was however reported that Dr. Denny is standing her ground and will not be apologising for encouraging children to urge their parents and relatives to be vaccinated against COVID-19.