trespassers and potential drug dealers from coming into contact with schoolchildren.

The wall, begun a month ago by the Ministry of Works and Engineering, was designed to stop vehicles driving unrestricted through the school at high speeds and using it for parking.

Pembroke West MP the Hon. Jerome Dill claimed area residents and the school principal had called him in to discuss the problem.

"We were always concerned that there was drug activity going on,'' Mr. Dill said. "We wanted to secure the area.'' He added that school principal Mrs. Davina Blakeney was concerned about both the physical danger to children from motorists and the potential for drug dealers trespassing on the property.

But Mrs. Blakeney yesterday categorically denied the reason behind the wall had anything to do with fears about drugs in the area. It was purely to deal with the problem of traffic, she said.

"We have never had a problem with any drug dealers,'' she said. "People have been using the eastern boundary to gain access to residents on that side. Our problem was to do with traffic and parking. It had nothing to do with drug dealers.'' She added: "We were concerned with the security and safety of the children with the traffic driving up on that side. I don't know of any other reason.''