By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
AFTER school activities have been suspended at Government schools in New Providence as the Bahamas Union of Teachers continue their industrial action.
Speaking with The Tribune, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said coaches have now joined with teachers in ceasing all after school activities until the government agrees to their demands.
“I am humbled that the coaches have voted and are now joining with us. This means no after school sports beginning today (Tuesday). All afternoon sports and practices from primary school straight up to high school with be stopped,” she said.
“None of our matters have been resolved. We were hoping that after meeting with the Prime Minister something would happen, but the meeting was just a regurgitation of what they already said. We meet with them for two and a half hours on October 16, after that meeting we sent the Prime Minister a 15-page letter. We then had a meeting on Friday, October 24, with the Minister and that turned into a five-hour meeting about the same thing. Nothing has changed, so we will continue to do what we have to.”
Despite Ms Wilson’s statement, one coach, who wished to remain anonymous, said he will continue to participate in after school sports because “it is the children who will be affected.”
He said: “I will keep doing it, I am getting paid for that so I won’t stop. Also we cannot let this thing get so personal that the kids will be affected. For many of them, sports is an outlet and I will not take that away.”
Last Friday, Ms Wilson issued a cease order for all teachers who normally participate in after school activities as the union began work to rule throughout the country.
In a press release the BUT said the 4,000 teachers were advised that effective Wednesday, November 6, 2013 they will report to school at 8:45 a.m. and leave at 3:15 p.m.
Among the matters of concern, Ms Wilson said, is the fact that there is still $5.2 million owed to teachers; new teachers have still not received a salary since August 2013; teachers being sent to the Family Islands without rent money or a salary; changes to the group medical insurance plan without consultation; teachers being mistreated and victimized; intimidation by police and security officers and an assault on teachers and union officers.
Ms Wilson noted that the BUT has taken its concerns to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and also intends to seek relief from the Supreme Court.
Comments
TalRussell 10 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Sister Belinda fight your union battles, without using our children and parents as your bargaining tools. Our crime infested, lack of paychecks society needs more after-school activities, not for them to be canceled.
Amen!
MartGM 10 years, 5 months ago
It's gotten that serious that we need to take matters to the ILO? These concerns are understood, especially the fact that new teachers haven't been paid since August. That is ridiculous! But my goodness, we can't resolve this among ourselves?
I must say, I applaud that coach who decided to stay on with his kids. Our children have no outlet besides school and the after school activities they participate in. I can imagine the number of kids I'll see on the streets these days. Sighhh...this has been going on for far too long! I can't believe we don't know how to come to a compromise in the year 2013! smt
concernedcitizen 10 years, 5 months ago
4000 Teachers ,my word .This is just another jobs program to try and absorb our prolific baby making .This is BEC ,RBDF ,ZNS ,BAHAMASAIR ,AND BTC before it was sold ..When 1 in 4 people work for government you have to keep taxing and borrowing to keep it going .We have already priced ourselves out of the tourism market w/ our stop over declining while others in the region are increasing ..
rony 10 years, 5 months ago
My word? How many kids you think in them classes dred? Some class have 32 plus kids! You need the teachers, Make sense when you speak Dred, A big part of the baby making is because most of these Haitians still trying to have 6 or more children. Bahamian women stopped having alot of kids a long time ago.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 5 months ago
Bahamian women where i live still have plenty children ,,,,,,,,,The hatian children do better in school w/ out them we would have a 20% graduation rate at our 300 million a year single mothers babysitting centers ..
rony 10 years, 5 months ago
Where do you live? Must be la la land, you can't be living in The Bahamas. Some primary schools if you have 10 kids 8 are Haitians! Like I said you must not be living in the 242!!
concernedcitizen 10 years, 5 months ago
my girlfriend is a teacher and yes i live in the 242 ,,thank god for the hatian kids or are collective gpa would be about - i .. and if i walk five minutes in any direction from my house i will pass at least 3 bahamian homes w/ single mothers of 4 to 5 for 3 different daddies and i live on a family island ,,,,,,,The hatians long ago made more babies then their GDP can support ,but we are doing the same ,,,6000 kids graduate a year ,even if a 1000 are hatian bahamians ,there aren,t jobs for the 5 thousand other ,,and then cry to the government to make jobs ,,geez ,i say salt peter in the water ..
rony 10 years, 5 months ago
The Haitian kids make up most of the kids in school now! I know lots of Haitians who have countless baby daddy, buttom line is if 10 kids are born in The Bahamas 6 are of Haitian parents so that means they are breeding like mad. You must be mad to think Bahamians have more kids.
concernedcitizen 10 years, 5 months ago
That is not true ,it is pure xenophopia w/ no facts to back it up .How can 30,000 people ,have as much children as 300,000 people ..YES WE DO HAVE AN IMMIGRANT PROBLEM BUT 6 OUT OF 10 KIDS BORN HERE ARE NOT HATIAN ...Of the 6000 kids that graduate a year it would be hard pressed for a 1/6 to be Hatian/bahamian .On the family island i live i can count the Hatian children in the primary school ,i am across from it ,and its not a 1/4 of the students ,plus as i said my girlfriend ,a teacher tells me the hatian kids do better .Rory 6 out of 10 births are not hatian that is pure conjecture w/ no imperical facts to support it ..
rony 10 years, 5 months ago
Do listen you listen to Jeffery talk show? Get a copy of his story, it was a whole show he had on it. You don't live Nassau and don't really see the numbers! Using caps mean you must be getting upset! Are you one of those indenial Haitians who think only 30, 000 to 40, 000 of you'll live I the Bahamas? Fact There are 50, 000 Haitians in The Bahamas what the government admit to! So you know the government keeps real figures away from the people! That real number could be 80,000. Bottom line in 10years we will be outnumbered by Haitians.
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