BUT President Belinda Wilson.
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
WHETHER things go smoothly at C H Reeves Junior High School on Monday rests with Ministry of Education officials, Bahamas Union of Teachers President Belinda Wilson said Friday.
In an interview with this newspaper, Mrs Wilson said since earlier this week receiving a strike certificate over the conditions at the junior high school, letters have been sent to education and labour officials informing them that the union still has nothing official in its possession to certify that all the issues were resolved.
Asked whether there was likely to be industrial action on the first day of school following the holiday break, she said: “Our reaction depends on the ministry’s action, so if they have done what is supposed to be done then it’s smooth sailing.
“If not then we will decide what our next move is.”
She also said: “I would have written a letter to the Minister of Labour (Dion Foulkes) and (the Director) John Pinder and we go back to conciliation at CH Reeves on Tuesday morning that’s January 8th.
“I also wrote a letter to the Minister of Education (Jeff Lloyd) and the Permanent Secretary of Education letting them know that we have nothing in our hands that confirms that the mould has been tested, the school has been cleaned and the mould has been remediated.
“We have nothing in our hands to show that the place has been exterminated and the rodents and infestation has been completely eradicated and we have nothing in our hands to tell us that the new 12 classroom block would be occupied for the teachers and students Monday. So I think we are right back to square one.”
When school opens Monday she said teachers will show up, do their own inspections and inform the union on the effort that has been made to ensure the school is at a BUT acceptable standard.
“Once we get a report from the Shop Stewart as to the condition of the school we will be able to better state what our next course of action is,” Mrs Wilson said.
On Thursday, The Tribune was told mould samples were taken from CH Reeves and sent abroad for independent analysis.
The samples were reportedly taken by an independent contractor, according to a source close to the matter, who noted it was carried out under the supervision of the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Labour, school management and union representatives.
However, Mrs Wilson said no union representative was present.
Comments
BMW 5 years, 3 months ago
She is a disgrace.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 3 months ago
Utterly so!
sheeprunner12 5 years, 3 months ago
Belinda has been "teaching" for over 30 years ........ can she seriously and honestly say that the state of the schools are so poor now that they warrant closing them down by industrial action ........ one at a time?????? ............. But the blame here goes to a weak Minister and a tactless Director of Education.
Leaders must lead ............. and Education is probably one of the worst run Ministries in Government .......... Somewhere, Fitzgerald is smiling now. Lloyd is making him look good.
licks2 5 years, 3 months ago
The PLP mis-director Fitzgerald left behind is the "jack hammer" who is wrecking that ministry. . .Minister Lloyd did not want and still don't want that ill prepared DE. . .the body politics seem not to want him gone. . .all the other "dead weights" who were dragging the department down the tubes were moved by MOE Lloyd. But I guess the same "powers" that put that ill-fitted DE in place is the same power keeping him there. . .no matter how childish he runs that. . .or should I say "stalled" that department. . .politics trumps common sense always around here!! Stupidity still seem to rule the day when it comes to best person for the job is concern. . .certain persons are "not touched" no matter how bad the screw up the works. That DE is a dud. . .incompetent political dud to the highest!!
geostorm 5 years, 3 months ago
........ "Somewhere, Fitzgerald is smiling now. Lloyd is making him look good." I think I may have to agree with this statement. Mr. Fitzgerald was focused on achieving the plan that he laid out for the Ministry of Education. He and the former Director had no time to entertain Belinda's nonsense.
Mr. Lloyd would do himself a favor if he took a page out of Fitzgerald's play book. Unfortunately, however, he didn't want anything to do with the former Minister's plan. Belinda will continue to embarrass him and make him look like a fool.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 3 months ago
Now ......... they just hired BUT henchman Quinton Laroda in senior management at the Department of Education to assist Marcellus ........... The "fox" is now watching the "hen's nest" ...... LAWD
licks2 5 years, 3 months ago
Incompetence can never be "assisted" to become competence. . . incompetence will "fight" everything that it thinks may make him/her exposed as a misfit or not suitable for the position. . .Mr. Taylor is not matured enough to accept help from a competent person. . .Laroda will not stay there. . .he is too competent. . .he will become public enemy number one by the DE office!!
John 5 years, 3 months ago
This woman just loves beating up on authority, ok men bashing. And most of the items on her list could have been resolved in house. Roaches and rodents are an indication of improper janitorial duties, for example, not only ensuring that all food stuffs are cleaned up properly but that the garbage bins are far enough away from the buildings and also dumped regularly. And the best control for mold, which is common in this climate is bleach. But most people prefer to use the sweet or strong smelling disinfectants that have little or no effect. And the two missing louvres out the new windows. If it was vandalism and no one admitted who did it, everyone in that classroom would have to come up with one or two dollars to have the windows replaced. The air conditioning and the leaking roof and furniture shortages, yes take the Minister and ministry to task for it but calling a strike vote was premature and overkill. Many believe the schools are in better condition than they were in in quite some time. Now what Belinda and her union is going to do about getting the national grade averages up?
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