In Harper: Student, 14, Arrested With Marijuana During School Hours

From E. Varney Kamah | GNN Correspondent, Maryland County|

‘Wow! Wonder Shall Never End’, this is a story of a 14-year-old student of the JS Pratt High School of the port city of Harper, specifically Maryland County Electoral  District # 1, when  student identified as Melvin Brooks was caught smoking what was discovered as Marijuana during school hours.

According to GNN Correspondent in the county, student Brooks, a 7^th grader was caught early Thursday morning, April, 29, 2021, in a building closed the vicinity of the school campus.

According to the Harper District Township commissioner, Mr. Jonathan Harmer, the 14 years old suspects was caught in the unwholesome act along with his friend.

Mr. Harmer narrating the story said while on his way to work early Thursday morning at about 8:46am he was astonished to noticed that two male students of the JS Pratt High School in an old house molding and smoking the harmful substance.

“I rushed on them immediately when I saw and identified what exactly they were doing, I was shocked and embarrassed with the marijuana smell and I quickly reported them to their school authorities including the media, he discloses.

He stressed that the situation is not the first of its kind especially among teenagers in the County as such there is a need for national Government to act effectively in order to arrest those who normally traffic or bring into the Country these harmful substances that are destroying the children gradually.

The Harper district Township Commissioner pointed out that although there are straight laws on the books  to deter perpetrators from engaging into such unlawful acts but they are yet still happening.

Mr. Harmer continue that with the increased in the numbers of youths getting involved in such harmful situation, the   government needs to  be more practical, robust and take drastic actions or decisions to prevent such from happening.

He notes that today is little Melvin but tomorrow it could be someone else’s child or children.

For his part, Mr. Markenzine Blackmon acting Principal of JS Pratt high school appreciated the Township commissioner for arresting student Melvin.

” Thank God he has been caught by a prominent citizen here in Maryland County, this is what we have been going through here on the campus as administrators, these children whenever they have been observed of such habit by their fellow students, they most often argued and denied that they are not in such habit“, Blackmon stated.

” It is so embarrassing this morning to see my student been caught right handed in such unlawful act especially with his age and class, Markenzine uttered.

He disclosed that according to the Student Handbook, the school will institute the appropriate punishment befitting his offense and also threatened expulsion if he (Student -Melvin) failed to call his parents on the campus, the acting Principal of the JS Pratt High School added.

Meanwhile, Student Melvin Brooks who spoke to this paper early Thursday morning, has confirmed the act and apologized to his parents and school for such bad habit.

Stressing that it is not his first time smoking drugs; he got nurtured and initiated into the game when he was twelve years old by his older brother in 2019 in the J. Las Cuz Community in Harper, Maryland County where he currently reside.

The 14 years old disclosed that he usually buy it $50.00 Liberian Dollars from a man in his community in order for he and his older brother to smoke.

Although student Melvin didn’t disclose the name of his customer he usually buy from in order to make the work easy for the Liberian Drugs Enforcement Agency, It can be recalled that the JS Pratt High School in Harper Maryland County, has suspended three of its students for similar bad attitude.

Although the situation of students smoking harmful drugs is worrisome due to the alarming rate of drugs addiction that was mostly highlighted during the third phase of President Weah County tour and Citizens engagement in Margibi, Grand Bassa and Rivercess Counties; when acknowledged and challenged them to be good citizens by exposing and reporting such cases to the relevant authorities of government, this he added will help address the situation drugs abuse gradually.

Meanwhile, it’s again worrisome as the Education sector in Liberia since to appears to be having its troubling times as two weeks ago a seventh year old student Jovanus Turay shot and killed his colleague Precious Ireland both of the Cyber ED Christian School System in Congo Town, Montserrado County as investigation into that matter is said to be ongoing including this current situation in Maryland County. Meanwhile, the Liberian drugs Enforcement Agency has intervene and  launch an investigation into the matter.