Lawyer, witness butt heads over the status of Qahal Yahweh-affiliated school
Published:Saturday | May 17, 2025 | 12:06 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
There were several testy exchanges on Friday between King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, the lawyer for 16 members of the controversial Qahal Yahweh religious organisation, and a prosecution witness in the their ongoing trial, about whether a school associated with the group was a registered independent educational institution.
The witness, Diana Thompson, an assistant registrar at the Ministry of Education’s Independent Schools Branch, told the St James Parish Court that she made checks on the school, the Total Learning Centre, in June 2023, and subsequently provided a statement regarding her findings. Authorities removed several children from the Qahal Yahweh compound during an operation at the premises in Paradise, Norwood, St James, on June 7 that year.
Under cross-examination from Champagnie, Thompson rejected suggestions that the Total Learning Centre was ever registered by the education ministry.
“In your evidence-in-chief, you said that there was no record of this institution being registered. My question to you is, was that an absolute statement?” asked Champagnie.
“It is an absolute statement,” Thompson answered.
“Would you agree with me, madam, that there was an instance when the Total Learning Centre was once listed as a registered educational institution?” asked Champagnie.
“No, I would not agree, as I have not seen that evidence… . I still do not accept that, at some point, the Total Learning Centre was once a registered independent educational institute,” said Thompson, who appeared to be dismissive of the assertion.
However, Champagnie continued to press the witness, showing her a document indicating that the school had been registered.
“Do you accept that the document that was just shown to you is an authentic document representing the directory of educational institutions?” questioned Champagnie.
“Yes, I do. Based on this document, the Total Learning Centre is listed as an independent educational institute,” Thompson acknowledged.
RE-EXAMINATION
Under re-examination by the prosecution, Thompson noted that the document’s publication was between 2018 and 2019, whereas her enquiries about the school took place in 2023.
Meanwhile, a prosecution witness from the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, who previously testified on February 7 this year, returned briefly to the stand for further questioning from Champagnie. She was asked about her statement on the June 7, 2023 operation, in which she participated. She said she could not recall how long after that date she gave the statement.
Presiding trial judge Kaysha Grant-Pryce subsequently adjourned the matter for continuation on June 13, when the investigating officer is expected to take the stand. She also issued a subpoena for the officer, who is currently assigned to the St Elizabeth Police Division, to be present in court on June 13.
The defendants – Christopher Anderson, Omar Thompson, Jevaughn Thompson, Nekeisha Harding, Derrick Clarke, Roanalee Maitland, Alicia Meadley, Fabian Nelson, Franchain Paris, Jodian Spence, Jose Foskin, Oral Spence, Rayon Letman, Ingrid Williams, Vera Woolery, and Melisha Thompson – are on trial for breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Education Act.
During the June 7, 2023 operation at the Qahal Yahweh compound in Paradise, Norwood, 23 children were removed from the premises and placed in state care. A follow-up operation on June 30 that year led to the arrest and charge of the defendants.
The Qahal Yahweh group was previously in the spotlight in 2019 when the police removed six children, including a pregnant 16-year-old, from the compound. The church was under investigation at that time in relation to allegations that the group was conducting child marriages, as well as being involved in human trafficking, abduction, child abuse and sexual assault.