THE appointment as principal at a North Andros high school of a man convicted of manslaughter has put vetting processes at the Ministry of Education under fire from alarmed parents on the island.
North Andros High School principal Stephen Sands confirmed to The Tribune that he had been convicted of manslaughter in the death of his girlfriend in a domestic dispute more than 30 years ago, a conviction for which he had served eight years in prison.
An investigation was launched by The Tribune earlier this month after numerous residents called to report that the principal had been “convicted of murder”. In fact, he had been convicted of manslaughter.
Alfie Stubbs, a North Andros resident, said that after making the “discovery” about Mr Sands on Facebook, he immediately told his relative who, it was claimed, was dating Mr Sands at the time.
Mr Stubbs said his family was shaken by the news, particularly as Mr Sands had never informed them about the details of his past.
“I see something wrong,” Mr Stubbs said, “even if he had served his time, the fact that you have a known convicted criminal trying to mould students is troubling. When you do things like that you give up certain rights. None of the parents that I spoke to feel comfortable knowing his past.”
Mr Sands gave a full account of his sentence in an interview with The Tribune. He defended his character and his qualifications for the post on Friday. However, he later threatened legal action if his comments were used.
Mr Sands alleged that he had been misled into thinking that the Ministry of Education had authorised the interview, despite full disclosure from the reporter that he was being recorded for publication.
Mr Sands identified himself as a relative of Education Director Lionel Sands, adding that he had been hired by the Ministry of Education long before Lionel Sands became director.
The Tribune contacted Education Director Lionel Sands for comment on reports last week, before learning of his relationship with the North Andros principal.
When contacted, Lionel Sands said that he had never had an opportunity to check into the principal’s files as he was not recently employed.
He added that the Ministry of Education is not responsible for vetting people based on their “character” and putting them in certain positions.
That responsibility, he said, belongs to the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Public Services Commission.
“If someone committed a crime and the person who committed the crime suffered the consequences, then what is the problem?“ Lionel Sands asked. “If they were incarcerated and were engaged by the government of the Bahamas, what is the problem? I’m sure the vetting would be done and the necessary approvals would have been given.”
“Police would have to say if the person is suitable to be engaged. The Public Service Commission and the police are responsible for hiring people in the public service. Police would do all their checks and the Public Services Commission would determine if the person is suitable for the position or not.”
“The Ministry of Education,” he added, “receives applications from persons and submits them to the Public Services Commission along with the vetting done by the police. The only screening we do is for academics. We screen persons when they present documents and degrees to us from institutions. We do not determine the character of people. The relevance of whether they’ve been before the courts, that’s for other bodies to determine.”
Asked if it is unusual for people convicted of serious crimes to be employed or promoted to high positions in the education system, Mr Sands said: “We have persons in our sectors who have been charged. A determination has to be made whether they could serve in a new capacity and do so effectively.”
Lionel Sands’ comments comes several weeks after the Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) condemned the Ministry’s decision to fingerprint foreign teachers.
At the time, the education director said that the vetting process was instigated by the police for expatriate teachers and was a crucial tool for the Ministry of Education as past shortfalls have resulted in hiring teachers who were sexual predators.
Requests put to the police for information about Stephen Sands were not granted up to press time.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 10 years ago
PLP the gift that just keeps on giving....
Cornel 10 years ago
"Sex Offender Fraser Launches New Church" , a Principal who is a murderer, what a great place, the Bahamas
proudloudandfnm 10 years ago
Man the PLP will justify anything. Stupid way they defend Lightbourne, now this? Please can we get anyone else in power now? I'd even go with the DNA if I had too. Anyone but the goddamned PLP....
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
Agreed. This is very strange. The anything goes administration
TalRussell 10 years ago
I is giving better than numbers odds, if Tribune readers can name the first PLP who go'in to stand up n the House of Assembly and utter; Mr. Speaker, even if it involves we school children's, I stands up proudly for second chances for anyone's character flaws to be principl'in we little ones.
Thinker 10 years ago
Is the school funded by taxpayer dollars? Ya better get down there and demand he goes if you want them to know who's in charge of paying the bills.
Thinker 10 years ago
Absurd admission that government thinks it's more important to protect a criminal than to protect our kids.
Thinker 10 years ago
Are there rules for police? Are they allowed to be criminals also?
henny 10 years ago
He served time for manslaughter not murder concerning death to his girlfriend 30 yrs ago. We do not know the circumstances. He could have been defending himself. To make judgement of his ability to be a principal I don't think is necessary for the public to decide. Let those responsible to do the research do their job and make their determination.
Publius 10 years ago
If it was self defence he would not have been convicted of manslaughter. Self defence is not a crime in this country
Publius 10 years ago
Only under the PLP would it be said "what's the problem with us hiring a killer to be a school principal..." . This country is going to extreme filth under these people
sps 10 years ago
hi everyone. this man is my father, yes it was my mother he killed when i was seven months old. i must say i grew up hard with my moms family it was very hard. but i must say after my father came out of prison he went to the college part time and worked part time while helping me through private school. i hated him, for what he did everyday. i blamed every bad thing in my childhood on him. but i want this country to know under it all he turned out to be an awesome dad... my 4 kids are like his own. they are always excited to visit him during school vacations. and they always exclaim about the wonderful times they had with him. when i was weak a day in school he rushed there and carried me at age 14. he carried me... again i say that was my mother i never knew her, but heard wonderful stories about her. i love her through the memories I am sharing through others. i love my father because he tries to do the best at whatever he does. i dont hate him anymore, i dont blame him for all my mistakes anymore. if i fall now, i blame me. all i can say is everyone deserves a second chance, and he is doing his the right way.... proud of you dad any1 has questions my # is 5516241
TalRussell 10 years ago
The Tribune didn't go looking for this story. Comrade SPS I commend you for standing up for your father and it is not for me to judge your father's relationship with his son and family members. That is personal business. The only question is, does he belong in charge of a public school and was all you say about the goodness of your father, fully vetted by government and educational officials, before his placement as a school principle? No government official, family related or not, can simply attempt to dismiss it as "not being the business of all Bahamalanders. Place the "hiring review documents/process" before the parents of the school and allow them to voice their positions, cause its already in the public domain and ain't going nowhere fast. After all, it was the family members of students at the school who voiced their concerns with the Tribune.
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
Sps, glad to hear that he was able to turn a corner. The "everyone deserves a second chance" is used too loosely nowadays to condone all manner of behavior. Maybe everyone does deserve a second chance, Cain certainly got one, but even he realized he would not be restored to his original state and his second chance would not come while he conducted his life as if nothing had ever happened. He had a mark that announced what he did to everyone. No doubt he lost many job opportunities because of what he did. That is the price you pay
sps 10 years ago
i agree
TalRussell 10 years ago
Comrade Nenny, if you want to gamble go play the numbers rackets (yes they still is an illegal rackets, regardless what this PM says) and not roll them's dice with our school children's. Many Tribune readers does laugh along with me when they read; " Let those 'responsible' to do the research do their job and make their determination?" The problem is, we simply ain't much in the trus'tin mood with this bunch of House MP's and those charged to make sound determinations. You do understand what I'm gett'in at, right?
Bahamianpride 10 years ago
WTF.. I don't care if he has coverted to Gandy, with that background he is disqualified to serve in the care of children or anything involving the public's trust. Are we losing our mind who appointed him, fire them all who appointed him.
realfreethinker 10 years ago
Good luck with that. you aint hear the CYA
birdiestrachan 10 years ago
The Great King David committed Adultery and had the woman's husband killed, and God said of David "He is a man after my own heart" Moses was a murder and God allowed Moses to lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. We do not know the circumstance of his crime . But if he has paid his death to Society. What is it you people want? His blood If his child has forgiven him who are we to hold him hostage ? He may be a good example for the children of forgiveness and what mistakes not to make. I wish him well.
sheeprunner12 10 years ago
This is a very sensitive issue.................... based on his years of teaching, his posts of responsibility and his PSC records, it must be concluded that despite this prison sentence, he must have had an exemplary teaching career...................... thats assuming there were no other "connections"
concernedcitizen 10 years ago
@birdie WTF is his "death to society "
ThisIsOurs 10 years ago
What is up with birdie? That woman's first born son with David DIED. Have to check my scripture but I'm almost certain the "man after my own heart" was not spoken the night he slept with another man's wife or after that. Something is seriously wrong with this society...why is it that we cant find honest, ethical, law abiding men for key positions? Why is it that we always have to chose between child molesters, drug dealers, wife beaters, plagiarists, embezzlers...WHY, this just doesn't make sense, what kind of country is this?
Actions have consequences, some more costly and far reaching than others
BahamianAway 10 years ago
Just by the fact that they classed this as manslaughter means that the initial intent wasn't murder. However, he still was responsible for the death of someone and that should have been disclosed to the parents and other staff members of schools he worked at.
Should he be allowed to continue teaching, that should depend solely upon the circumstances surrounded the charge. A person can get in a vehicle and get involved in a accident. When they drove that vehicle was their intention to cause death- NO , that situation to would result in a manslaughter charge. Point is he was convicted and he served his time 30yrs ago...apparently there haven't been any situations to raise concerns since.
I feel he should be given the benefit of the doubt based on the whatever the circumstances are surrounding the previous charges for which he has already served time and for his conduct since.
B_I_D___ 10 years ago
The Ministry of Education is just one big waste of space. They LOVE to say how they are 'not responsible for vetting'...we have this case where they have hired a convicted felon to head up a school, rehab'd or not, awesome person or not, I don't think a convicted felon should be running a public school...but the same again when confronted about all the holiday street vendors that set up camp at RM Bailey park every couple months, the Ministry of Education is very quick to say...it is not our responsibility for vetting out the tenants to make sure they have business licenses or have paid their necessary duties or National Insurance...we just rent them the space for a couple weeks...not our place to vet things. May as well shut that ministry down as apparently they don't do a damn thing in there...and don't get me started on the crap education they are doling out to the masses. WASTE OF SPACE.
TalRussell 10 years ago
This is not about some man joking about slapping his girlfriend, like it can ever be all about some joke. No Comrade ever got sent up to reside at Her Majesty's Fox Hill Prison for "30 years," if the judge or jury were not alarmed at the nature of offense and the actions of the accused. The Tribune knows where to go to and how to obtain the trail documents. Obviously, no one in government ever bothered to read them and there is no libel, if the facts are reported. Yes, even if 30 long years have passed.
Bahamianpride 10 years ago
ThisOurs sums it up best.. U can be forgiven but that does not bring u back to your standard once again, there is a price to pay for our deeds. We cannot apply the standards of conduct, morals, forgiveness etc subjectively, especially when it comes to our kids or the publics trust. If we did, who is to say Randy Frasier is not a changed man and should we forgive him for his deeds and with that forgiveness feel comfortable with him as a church leader.. Its not about forgiveness its about Trust & the only measuring stick for trust is a clean history of good conduct, qualification & character.
birdiestrachan 10 years ago
Belinda Wilson I was wondering who was behind this story. She has not been in the news lately . But there she was condemning a man for something that happened thirty years ago./ The reason for so many persons being killed is because so many do not forgive . they can never let things go. I suppose Butler Turner and Dr.Minnis will jump on this band wagon. and the editorial page of one of the daily news paper will have a field day.
TalRussell 10 years ago
Anything the government does IS the peoples damn business. Comrade this is not a red or gold shirt issue but a Bahamalander matter. For all we knows he could have been hired and promoted under Hubert's regime. Is it too much to demand a full disclosure by the sitting government of the day, not it's not the people's business?
carlh57 10 years ago
Mr. Sand, putting off responsibility of his department doing their appointed jobs.....and "checking details" is too much for this government (or any other) apparently....but that's apparently business as unusual.....
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