Tonight, principal of Belmopan Baptist and Pastor Norman Willacey is at the center of a growing controversy - and, he is now under investigation by his school management.
As we reported on Friday night - the child's mother came to the media to allege and offer proof that the Principal had an inappropriate relationship with her daughter, who was a 16 year old student at the time.
In response, Willacey did the most incredible thing: he confessed to, quote, "messing around" with a 16 year old fourth form student - to whom he was principal, counselor, and pastor.
And he confessed it in a most unusual way - he did it by accident: Willacey told 7news that he made a major mistake: he meant to send a text to his lawyer, but instead sent it to one of our media colleagues who was following up on the story.
That is a major oops - because in the text he said, quote: "(the young lady) produced a facebook conversation from Easter break when we were messing around."
It continues, quote:
"I deleted my copy and repented and told her to do the same immediately. She didn't and that is what will be published tonight."
When we asked Willacey about the text - he said it's true: they were "messing around" in March. He was new to Facebook and thought if he deleted their messaging thread at his end, it would be deleted at her end too.
But it wasn't, and that highly sexual, very troubling messaging thread was shown to the media by the child's mother - as proof of a highly inappropriate relationship.
And so on Saturday, the teenager's mother was called in to meet with the Baptist School Management which assured her that an investigation has been launched.
And today, the Ministry of Education sent out a press release saying, quote: The Ministry of Education…is greatly disturbed by the recent allegations against and subsequent public statements by the principal of Belmopan Baptist High School regarding his apparent inappropriate relationship with a student under his care."
It continues, quote,
"The Ministry has been in contact with the school's management…(and they have indicated) their intention to take swift and appropriate action."
The issue of time factors in because the high school opens on Friday. As we understand it the next move is in the hands of the school management.
We note that the Education act and rules says in rule 93. (1) The Managing Authority of a school may institute disciplinary proceedings (f) for any conduct which may be physically, morally or otherwise harmful to students or other members of staff; Willacey declined an interview today, but on Friday he told us he is ready to meet with the girl's family and apologize.
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