– MoE retracts QC teachers’ sanctions
Following the withdrawal of sanctions dealt to three Queens College teachers, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) yesterday declared that they will participate fully in today’s National Schools’ track and field, cycling and swimming championships.
The GTU had threatened to pull out of the championships following the failure by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to involve the union in the process which led to sanctions against the Queen’s College teachers following the death of a QC student Neesa Gopaul.
In a joint press release the GTU and the MoE declared that they have reached an agreement as it relates to the issue.
Gopaul was earlier last month, murdered and her body dumped at a abandoned resort on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.
Last Wednesday GTU President, Colin Bynoe had indicated to the media that the GTU would pull out of the championships as the MoE had breached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the GTU by carrying out the investigation on the QC teachers without the involvement of the GTU.
“The GTU is now involved in the National Schools’ Championships. We wish to inform all who were concerned – the sponsors, parent, athletes and teachers – that we expect their full support and corporation for the Championships,” the release stated.
Teachers and students have since expressed their relief that the issue has been timely resolved, and that they could look forward to a championships backed by the GTU’s vital support.
“I’m happy that good sense prevailed. I anticipated this result. I knew it would have been resolved,” one district head stated.
Some districts had already begun arriving at the Games Village since Sunday while the last of the districts were expected to arrive last night.
Today, the swimming events are set to take place at the Castellani Pool from 9am while the male 40Km and the female 20Km cycle road races are also set to take place along with the male 10K and female 5K road races.
The opening ceremony will be held from 3pm at the Providence National Stadium.
