By Shuntel Glasgow
In the wake of pressure from the government over its strike, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) yesterday said it is not in breach of financial rules and its audited reports are submitted at every GTU annual conference,
Mark Lyte, its President, told Stabroek News yesterday that the union is currently addressing several issues raised by government. Regarding the submission of financial statements, Lyte said that the system used to collect financial documents seems defunct. According to Lyte, “If you have a state that did not collect from entities since 1989, as it is alleged, then it is a clear case that all the principals in those offices have not been doing their duties. So, you will see this reverberating across all the different unions who are not feeling the need to submit because there is no demand on submissions.”
Lyte added, “We have the same situation with the churches, mandirs and mosques… they also are required to submit their financial statements. So, we should check to see if the mosque is submitting its financial statements as well as the temples and churches, because those are entwined in the law. To deem that non-submission is a case of persons misappropriating funds, it’s really sad because we have had our books audited every year and especially as it leads up to our conferences.”
He said that the audited reports are submitted at each General Council (highest decision-making body), meetings and conferences. All audits are conducted by audit firms. Commenting further on government’s refusal to meet for talks, the head of the union reiterated that as teachers continue to remain on strike, legal advice was sought by the union. “Absolutely no one has reached out to us and we have been saying all along that we are ready to speak.”
Regarding the move by the Ministry of Education over the discontinuing of union dues deduction for the GTU, Lyte said a course of legal actions would be taken. The GTU head said the Ministry cannot arbitrarily make such a decision overnight since that arrangement, of union dues deduction from teachers’ salaries, has stood for years. Previously, teachers had to apply to the union who then instructed that the monies be deducted from their salaries.
“Just like how you’re saying that the law requires us to submit, the law requires that unions are engaged in collective bargaining and right there… there is a breach of the constitution by the government as well. You just wake up one morning and say that you’re not deducting when this has been an arrangement all along, and of course, if you’re doing that for GTU, then you have to do that for all the other unions and bodies.”
Since the government is yet to engage the union, the GTU said a decision was made to extend the strike. Several schools around Georgetown visited by this newspaper were without teachers and children on Monday. The schools visited include: Richard Ishmael Secondary, Cummings Lodge Secondary, New Campbellville Secondary, West Ruimveldt Secondary, North George-town primary, Carmel Secondary, South Ruimveldt Primary, Winfer Gardens Primary, St. Joseph Secon-dary among others. However, children preparation for the NGSA, CSEC and CAPE examinations continue to face the consequences of the strike.
Meanwhile, the striking teachers resumed their picketing yesterday at the Ministry of Education on Brickdam. Among the popular chants were, “No negotiation, no resumption”, “Respect our union, teachers deserve better”, “Slippers on the ground, we not backing down”, “6.5, can’t work”, “Pay today, bruk today”, “Pay we sap, we nah come back”, “Goods in the market high high, and teacher’s salaries dry dry.”
Jennifer Basdeo-Green, doctor and wife of former Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, who was on the picket line in support of the striking teachers, told Stabroek News that talks about nation building must include human resources. “Human resource (teachers) brings the children to fruition of all potentials and as a result teachers need to be adequately compensated,” she emphasized.
“All this oil money, and we can’t find the money. I think that’s preposterous, I don’t think it’s a question worth answering, the answer is there. We have the money, it’s just a matter of putting the resources where they need to be put. I’m sure that we don’t want ten years down the road we have a set of uneducated people who are unable to benefit from what this country has to offer. It’s education that is going to do it. How are we going to have education if we don’t have teachers teaching? How can you teach properly if you are not adequately compensated? Who likes being on a hungry belly? Who likes watching eight eyes if you have four children looking at you and there is an empty plate? How can I go to school and teach after I have experienced that in my own home? How can I be kind to other people’s children when I can’t feed my own? The whole public sector needs to be properly remunerated. Teachers are nurses, psychologist, parents; all of these roles are fulfilled in the schools, whether we like it or not. So, you’re giving me this little bit of money to be a parent…. come on”, she urged.
