the woman to work at a new nursery school.

And parents and school administrators yesterday came to the defence of the Happy Moments Nursery -- which is to open today -- and Gloria Holdipp.

Ms Holdipp was fined $400 in Magistrates' Court in December 1990 for after being found guilty of slapping a two-year-old boy.

Her lawyer Philip Perinchief said at the time that Holdipp was a first offender and acted "in a moment of frustration''.

Health Minister Wayne Furbert said the incident happened eight years ago and Ms Holdipp had taken several courses and had had supervision of children since then.

He said: "I have reviewed the situation and feel confident that she should be able to teach. She has taken Government programmes and after that much time her past should not haunt her.'' Saying he was not aware if the Ministry had reviewed the case before, he added: "I have reviewed it and she should be able to work.'' Woman cleared to teach at nursery Shadow Health Minister Renee Webb yesterday echoed Mr. Furbert's stand saying, that if the 38-year-old woman had received help and a review had been done, she did not have a problem with the hiring.

She added: "From what you have told me, if she has been cleared to teach, then we must not punish someone for the rest of their lives. Clearly she needs to make a living.'' Meanwhile, director of the Seventh Day Adventist affiliated nursery Pauletta Furbert was critical of Royal Gazette coverage of the issue, but said there had been no negative effect on the school.

And she said the unidentified parent who advised other parents not to enrol their children in Happy Moments did not have children in the school.

"Happy Moments adheres to the strict Health Department guidelines,'' Mrs.

Furbert added. "We have a high rapport with the department.'' She added: "I did not consider that we would have a problem. We submitted the information on our staff and we followed the procedures.'' "We are licensed to open. None of this was brought out in the articles,'' Mrs. Furbert said. "We're here for the negative slant and sensationalist journalism. We were never contacted.'' The school has operated a summer camp since June with 48 students and will open today with 12 registered students, one of whom was signed up late last week.

Parent Roger Trott said he had no problem with the school or Ms Holdipp, adding that his son often did not want to leave the pre-school.

"My wife and I support the school 100 percent,'' he added. "Despite the publicity, I find it to be impressive.'' Another parent -- who asked not to be identified -- said her daughters often left home for school before she was ready to walk them the short distance.

Mrs. Furbert said that more than 150 people attended the school's open house on Thursday and there had been no withdrawals of students.

She added: "We are a community school. We serve not only Hamilton Parish but also children as far away as St. David's and we offer programmes comparable to more expensive pre-schools.'' COURTS CTS