Protestors led by the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) continued to picket yesterday outside of the Brickdam office of Education Minister Shaik Baksh, calling for the confirmation of the current Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO), Genevieve Whyte-Nedd. The picketers were also calling for the confirmation of acting Headmistress of the South Ruimveldt Secondary School, Dawn English.

President of the GTUC, Gillian Burton was among the small number of persons who were protesting at the Minister’s Lot 21, Brickdam office and she told Stabroek News that this action was necessary since the Union was acting on the resolution it passed at May Day observances to support Whyte-Nedd and by extension other public service employees who found themselves in similar positions.

She said that the time has come not only for voices to be heard but for the union’s physical presence to be felt.  Burton stated that the picketing exercises would signal to everyone that they are serious when it comes to worker’s issues.

Burton said that the failure of the government to appoint these persons who were qualified and who had proven their competence while acting in various positions “sends the message that the administration is uncaring, lawless, unconcerned, devious …”

Burton indicated that this is one of the many actions that the Union was going to take and she signalled the TUC’s plan to intensify action.  She said that this may include the lobbying of regional and international bodies for assistance.

Whyte-Nedd has been acting in the position of Chief Education Officer (CEO) for five years and is expected to retire shortly, this newspaper was told.

While supporting Whyte-Nedd’s case, Working People’s Alliance (WPA) member and member of the South Ruimveldt  Secondary School Board, Desmond Trotman was leading the call for the confirmation of English. According to him,  English has been acting for more than two years as Headmistress.

He said that the Ministry had failed to appoint her although she had been deemed the best candidate to head the school.
The matter was raised with Education Minister Baksh by Trotman earlier this year. In that letter, a copy of which was seen by this newspaper, Trotman outlined that process by which English was found to be the most appropriate of three candidates who had applied for the post of Head teacher.

According, to Trotman, English’s suitability was determined by a panel of interviewers, which comprised members of the School Board, a member of the school’s teaching staff, a representative of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the then Principal Education Officer of Georgetown  who represented the Ministry.

Two members of Grassroots Women Across Race (GWA) which is affiliated with the Red Thread Organisation, came out to support the cause, with one member saying that the body was behind any issue which sought to address the unfair treatment of women.

Activist Tacuma Ogunseye was among the protestors. He said that he had joined the GTUC in the struggle against the selective victimization of senior public servants in the country who were entitled to promotion. He promised to support the activity until the matter was solved. He said that it was ironic that a government that prides itself as being a working class party continues to attack organized labour.