Arsonist strikes again at nursery

Damaged property: items burnt by fire at Happy Valley Child Care Centre at the weekend



Parents and staff at a childcare centre have branded a suspected arson attack as reckless and extremely dangerous.

The Happy Valley Child Care Centre said yesterday that the fire at the Pembroke centre on Saturday caused a significant amount of damage to the building, toys, bikes and other equipment.

Trina Davis-Williams, the president of the Parents Teachers Association, said the attack was totally unacceptable, dangerous and simply beyond comprehension. She added: To show such total disregard for the wellbeing of the children and property tells us that this person is intent on destroying our property and they must be caught as soon as possible.

Ms Davis-Williams said that the programme served some of Bermudas most vulnerable children.

She added: Why someone would want to attack that, I just cannot understand.

Fire destroyed a minibus at the school in June.

It was used to transport children to educational programmes and for trips.

Andalyn Swan, a co-ordinator at the centre, said that the minibus was an essential component of the programme.

She added: We have been struggling to make things work.

We have had to cancel some of the outings as we simply cannot afford the costs of transport.

Ms Swan thanked the public for donations to help buy a replacement minibus.

She said: Thanks to the generosity of local and international companies and the public we are only $25,000 away from our fundraising goal.

The Happy Valley centre said it provides full-time childcare for children aged three months to four years.

He said that 60 per cent of the children were classed as at risk or came from referrals by the Department of Child and Family Services, the Child Development Programme, Teen Services and the Department of Health.

A police spokesman said: The BPS is conducting inquiries in conjunction with the Bermuda Fire&Rescue Service.