Dear Editor,
I must inform the Guyanese public of my continued victimization by officers within the Department of Education in New Amsterdam, one in particular, and an overall agenda by this vindictive government, who I voted for during the last election. My being singled out seems to continue even under a new administration at the Region 6 Education Department, reason being my newspaper articles and the vociferous stance I have taken on numerous issues in our country.
The Education Officer has inspired the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) to charge me on Wednesday of this week during a hearing for “Conduct unbecoming of a teacher”- Leaving the country without permission. I was served by her letter in December of last year for what she accused me of: leaving Guyana in December 2012 without permission during the Christmas holidays. That letter was forwarded to the TSC and I received the TSC letter of summons for a hearing this Wednesday based on her charge. But the stupidity of her accusations! I have obtained from the Ministry of Education in Georgetown copies of all my Permissions to Leave the Country. Certainly this officer did not do her homework properly but was too trigger- anxious to instigate charges against me and waste the Commission’s time to write me summoning me to a hearing!
Now during the past week, during a meeting with the Region 6 Education Officer, the said officer and another education officer—a meeting during which I walked out because I was sick to my stomach of these people’s fixation on me—the education officer, figuring out that I had cornered her by having copies of all my permissions to leave Guyana, dug up another thing to have against me! Now she has said that I overstayed in America and did not apply for the No- Pay leave on time! Can you believe these people?! I was shocked and amazed at this new development! I had sent in my application for No- Pay leave in January 2013 and also in January 2014, but she is saying that I should have applied for it way before. I did not know I had to. I am sorry. And she has said that her previous letter to me about leaving the country without permission was “wrong” and has to be “amended”!
Can you imagine these people?! Right there, in front of Ms. Volika Jaikishun, the Region 6 Education Officer, admitting she wrongfully accused me of leaving Guyana without permission (I am indebted to the Government by way of attending UG and I am under contract). The time these people waste on Leon Suseran! The paper and State resources they waste not to mention the precious time of the TSC who, by the way, ‘messed them up badly’ after this same officer and Education Department put my headmaster “on probation”. These people played the role of judge, jury and executioner when they do not even have the power to do this! And the TSC was very annoyed with them!
I believe I am being singled out and victimized. I am a friend of this government. I always have been. But gosh, these people are out to get me. They are so fixated on me. Every time this officer comes to my school, she asks for my records. Ms. Jaikishun, I know you are a good woman—you are new to the education department—do not get caught up with the departmental politics and vendettas your officers have against certain schools, head teachers and schools.
I am so frustrated by all of this. I am sorry I did not apply for the no-pay leave weeks before, but I did not know! But as for this education officer digging up lies against me, e.g. leaving the country without permission is hurtful and downright wrong!
I feel frustrated with this teaching work, a job that I loved so much. But the officers in Berbice seem to be Lords and Gods over us teachers and head teachers too. They seem to have forgotten they were once teachers and faced the same challenges and frustrations we face today. Why do they have to treat us this way?
I want her to know how many teachers leave Guyana without any consent or knowledge of the department of education or Ministry.
She said the letter to me has to be “amended” but what needs to be urgently amended is her ways and the behaviour and attitudes of the entire echelon of the Department of Education.
I am a financially contributing member of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU). I hope they are reading this.
The whole system sucks! Me, my Head Teacher, the officer in question and the entire TSC will be engaged with my matter on Wednesday—me appearing not on a “false” charge, but on another that will be brought on, the “amended” letter that I did not apply for no- pay leave on time.
One entire day of instructional teaching time will be lost by the children in Berbice on Wednesday.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Suseran
