Turnbull blocked school entrance after playground snub — deCastro
Education Minister Sharie deCastro has accused Second District Representative Melvin Turnbull of blocking the entrance and exit of the Ivan Dawson Primary School after the ministry ordered the removal of playground equipment delivered without authorisation.
“I am advised that during the removal, the Member arrived and blocked the only entrance and exit to the school with his vehicle,” deCastro stated. “He was repeatedly asked to move and consistently declined,” she added. The Minister explained that the matter was then escalated to the police.
Addressing the territory, deCastro sought to reassure parents and staff at the Cane Garden Bay school. “Your playground is coming. It is budgeted, it is scheduled, and it will be delivered safely and properly,” she stated. She said the replacement of outdated equipment had already been prioritised and included in the 2026 budget allotment.
The Minister explained that a territory-wide playground replacement and rehabilitation programme began three years ago, with eight playgrounds installed to date, seven of them donor-funded. She said a donations policy introduced in December 2023 requires donor disclosure, documentation, and safety review before procurement or delivery.
On July 2, 2025, Turnbull announced his intention to donate a playground to the school. “The ministry had not been consulted beforehand, but we nonetheless welcomed the possibility and outlined the required process,” deCastro stated. She said the Member indicated he was unable to disclose the donor’s identity, which prevented the project from progressing under the Ministry’s policy.
According to deCastro, no required documentation was submitted despite requests. She said that on January 27, playground equipment was delivered to the school after hours “without the ministry’s knowledge or authorisation” and left exposed to the elements. “Unapproved materials on campus without oversight or safety checks pose risks to students and staff,” she stated.
“For these reasons, the Ministry took the responsible step to have the equipment removed from the school property,” deCastro said. She described the incident as “unfortunate and politically driven” and added, “Schools are places of learning. Politics should not enter our school grounds”.
The Minister maintained that the Ivan Dawson Primary School playground is scheduled for completion during the Easter break in April, in time for the Trinity term. “The facts matter. The process matters. Good governance matters. And above all, the safety of our students matters,” she stated.
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Sharie is a bully. There was no need for this to be an issue. Since when donating to a school could be bad. If the right the procedure was not followed, accept the playground and remind the representative of the policy going forward. Simple. To remove the playground is overtop and shows signs of someone who is a control freak. This is not the reaction of a normal functioning leader. This is what happens when we put people in positions that they are not fit for. She was a horrible teacher and now a horrible minister.
No wonder the staff at the ministry of education are heading for the doors. That ministry has more turnover of staff than anywhere else since Sharie and Orlan took over. The place is hostile and unhealthy for the staff. Something needs to be done about those two before they wreck whatever is left of our education system.
The simple solution was to have the equipment inspected to make sure it meets the standard an accept the equipment for the children. Crazy people.
Was this immediately after or during the Daniel Fast CGB Church did and why is CGB Church giving Certificates for completing a Daniel Fast???? Blind leading the blind.
Do you people even know to fast in secret and the purpose of fasting?
How do you know persons actually completed the fast? Were you with them every second of the day?
Then the show and tellers who can’t stop broadcasting their life posting Certificate on Facebook more concerned with fitness with no mention of God.
God didn’t lie when He said in the last days people will become lovers of themselves.
Was this immediately after or during the Daniel Fast CGB Baptist Church did and why is CGB Baptist Church giving Certificates for completing a Daniel Fast???? Blind leading the blind.
Do you people even know to fast in secret and the purpose of fasting?
How do you know persons actually completed the fast? Were you with them every second of the day?
Then the show and tellers who can’t stop broadcasting their life posting Certificate on Facebook more concerned with fitness with no mention of God.
God didn’t lie when He said in the last days people will become lovers of themselves.
lies lies lies and you know it
or bad to worst?
Was the policy followed when the VIP gave her boyfriend belonger status even though he wasn’t eligible?
No it was not. A years old policy too.
What was the response to your immediate filed complaints when you…,concerned citizens became aware of this breach by
Hon de Castro?
Ole Bobble Head ms dunce like sheep
YOW FAMM LOL LOL LOL
Why BVI news uses the most terrible pictures they can find
No doubt they are all horrible. So what to do???
This is a good picture of her. You wouldn’t want to see a real one either with that lethal double chin she got going on there. It is a sight to behold.
Oh she only know about policy now?
Question:
Wasn’t there a belongers policy when her boyfriend got belongers when he was only here for a few years?
Was the policy followed when her family member got Covid money to pay off their credit cards and pay for brakes for their car?
So she only pulls policy talk when it suits her. Girl please go have several seats.
others were here before him too. it was illegal and should be revoked.
Example: When an elected minister selectively applies ‘policy’ in a professional capacity (as he/she should); but conveniently avoids its application for the benefit of family and ‘close’ friends in certain personal situations.
The moral of the story: Don’t fall for fancy words and fluffy statements as the dark clouds of control and victimization gather beneath.
I know of which I speak. Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
That’s it. That’s all. School’s out!
This is what happens when you “go by the books” ,when you comply with rules and regulations.
These VI is simpla a thrown together lumb of dumbobimbo,doing whatever and whenever but outside doing nothing going round in circles
Following rules in these VI is never the correct way because doing so accountability will follow,
Accountability is a “badword” suggesting order and this place is a catostrophic heap of confusion and unaccountability and empty promises/lies..
The poor examples set by these elected for the young maleable minds are part of the contributions
of a failed Education system and society rendering criminal behaviour.Rules/ laws are not to be followed is the message.Dont know if the turnbull have children but his example is damning for their future.. And in this case right in front of said children. A great discussion piece in the classroom for teachers willing to do so. Most parents will be appreciative. Turnbull schooling our children to have criminal minds..#1 Don’t follow rules,Break laws.
Look how she just easily lose her seat for the next election; ignorance and pettiness=complete badmind. It should of never got to this!!! the Althea Scatliffe Primary school still ain’t build yet… better to take the Playground That you DONT NEED TO PAY FOR and use the budgeted money to build over the ASPS, you are educated and yet big big stupid!! BVI would never get better you all in government.
You think she and others like her who have two or more terms are worried as much about the upcoming elections? That greedy bill secured her & co. to prettily suckle on the gvt nips, at our expense. Meanwhile, giving minimum wage workers the horrors, experienced workers entry pay, and after how many years it requires gvt workers to gain retirement, chump change.
Voted out of your seat could be a compliment depending on the mentality and morality of the voting constituents. Example would be the current imprisoned dishonorable Premier of these VI.
In my opinion, this lady did the honorable thing in an effort to uphold the rules and to protect the reputation of the Elected Gov and that of herself.
In any and all democratic Gov, accepting gifts and donations is a delicate matter and details regarding source and purse must be open and indelible. To do otherwise most especially secretly
/ lacking id and research suggests a cover up of illicit activity by both the donor and the receiver, Turnbull, in my opinion should be removed and a thorough investigation be completed around his activities,finances. He is totally and absolutely a bl and shadowy fgure and mark on our efforts at open and honest Governance.
Kudos to Hon de Castro for standing her grounds.
sounds to me like she has a solid case if the facts she presented are accurate. We tend to take sides based on who we like and dont like rather than objectively trying to evaluate.
Show us the facts! We don’t want to hear it, we want to SEE it! They said a playground was ordered, show us the invoice. I don’t believe nothing she says behind a teleprompter…
Sharie is beautiful, the embodiment of a black person that live the castle of her skin and her hair, was it some other girls in her position they would have been bleaching and making their hair indian to get validation, I live you lady.
However that feud of allowing another minister to enter your space could have been handled differently as you will learn as you age into more wisdom, if you had sat and compliment Turnbull for his effort it would have shown true leadership, probably even touching the people to push for you to take over as premiere instead of natalio staying there wrecking the country.
He is a waste at best.
Election hurry come let’s vote out Sharie! Waste of time! The man did something good for HIS district. Why fight it. Accept the playground and remind him of the policy going forward. Instead they rush to call the police. SMH. She needs to go! Talking bout the playground in 2026 budget. When will that ever happen? What happen to Althea Scatliffe? She’s not ready.
Her non reelection according to you will be based on the character and morality of her constituents,
Nothing new! Andrew’s constituents,collectively demonstrated their base character. Had they voted
him out, they would have done their future in these VI a predictably decent future.
As it stands asa result, these VI are currently on quick sand.
Voting Hon de Castro out could be doing her a favour. She is in bad company as demonstrated by this article, The Turn Bull ,who knows what gov shenanigans ,,he seems comfortable experienced in such routines. No shame at all in his game.
Please do
She is in bad company,
This house of card aka BVI, is gonna collapse
She is not a bull hoodlum.
She is outta place in that slime.
What more ammunition do we need to confirm that these VI are players in the field of illicit.
A Giv elected,publicly refuses to divulge the identity of a substantial donors required and as common sense would dictate.
The assumption must be then the donation comes from a drug dealer/ drug cartel in exchange for favors such as protection, personal involvement…
All and totally a scenario played out on the international front and during a sensitive time in these Caribbean including these VI,a past Premier caught red-handed, NEIGHBOR USVI in tug of war as Pres Trump orchestrates a pow wow within these VI and USVI while our borders continues to remain open to all trades..drug human trafficking,prison escapees..murderers including assasinators….
Had no idea that this Turnbull was so dense ,willfully and demon controlled
.
What would posess an elected Government official to publicly absolutely refuse to divulge the identity and source of purported costly gift??? To a local community school and on top of that making noise and a rumble in the earreach for the world wide and International community near and far??? Those that are convinced that these BVi are a drugpyshingpissin economy,,lawwwdeee
We done..sunk by the weight of the empty brainless Black Men in our community.
Arrears this SOB
Lets make sure we understand exactly what happened based on the evidence presented. The elected member did indeed refuse to give the info because the original donor asked to remain anonymous. The policy was told to the member and he went back to the drawing board and came back with a totally different donor who was willing to provide all the necessary documentation that was required. Even after that he was ignored and stonewalled.
The honorable Sharie omitted information from her sequence of events and you guys chewed and swallowed it all up.
Yeah yeah right…BVI have donors line up just so ready and willing…his audacity to have attempted to submit the “first” donation is enough to arrest his back.***and to be suspicious of the he and his second attempt. Unless I have missed it so far,the identity of the “save the day” donors has not been publicly released so the “anonymousity” still in place. Accepting gifts from anonymous donors is one of the first “Commandment” in legitimate Governments worlwide with unfortunate repercussions when it’s broken…
Kudos to Hon de Castro for covering her ash.
She wasn’t born yesterday and no matter what has been branded as our mental capacity by the dusty importees from up yonder…Not all Tolians chupid and unaware.
You definitely missed it. He has said who the second donor was more than once. It aint even an individual its a trust company.
Not because u dont like him mean you have to say things that aint true to get your point across. He even acknowledged his ignorance to the policy and made immediate steps to correct it with a new donor.
Sorry that narrative does not follow your hate for him
An elected official ready willing and determined to accept a donors gift without revealing said donor’s id and source of said funds defying rules,laws of his Government..
Do you not accept that such elected official could and would be a participant in the exit of criminals without judicial release from prison,the immediate exit of a murder(ers) for hire after job completion via land or sea,”unsolved” murders …
Hmmmm…..
In exchange for gifts,of course….
Where when and how he,according to you ..”He has
Said who the second donors is more than once”..
Where!!!
When!!!!
Quote the name and identity…direct us if you please..
Sad bunch of Satanic boldface irreprensible
spirits this place.
Donation Possibilities
Brent the 1 minute assasinator of a high-profile drugchieftain high day in public
Assasin 2minutes later..never seen nor heard but announcement from the local female Police in charge that he was no longer on the Island and whereabouts unknown
Bob Hodge..Assassinated in his yard..not ahint or whisper since about the ” unidentified” asassin
3 or some suc # of imprisoned murderers walked out of the prison with
A bully. Here you have elect official helping move the country forward, now due to the fact its not being done by her powers and can’t get acknowledgement or praise for the work. She dont want it there. That is total bullshit. The district prep did what you dragging your feet on. The kids have nothing to play on when they on break.
But you gone and make it political. I pray they dont give you back education next time around