No resolution yet in legal action on teachers’ strip search issue

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The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has to date failed to meet the deadline to respond to demands of teachers at the All Saints Secondary School (ASSS) who were strip searched on the school’s compound last year.
The teachers had taken legal action after undergoing what they termed a degrading strip search by police officers.
President of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT) Ashworth Azille said the issue is still pending.
Last October the educators said they were violated by the police when over a dozen of them were forced to undergo a strip search after a colleague reported that over the $4,500 was stolen from her handbag.
They claimed that when lawmen arrived at the school after classes had been dismissed for the day, 14 teachers who were still at work were ordered to remove items of clothing and were searched by a group of police officers.
They reported that at the time both male and female teachers had to remove every piece of clothing, including all underwear, and then made to squat and cough in front of the strangers.
Azille said the union was advised by its attorneys to permit a little more time for the authorities to respond. He said that awaited response will determine how the issue is handled going forward.
Teachers are demanding $150,000 each and an apology.
Acting Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney has vowed to respect the legal process in the face of the legal action taken by the teachers.

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