Dear Editor,
I have been following the recent discussions in the newspapers on the appointment of Mr. Dookie by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC). It seems as though our country keeps getting from bad to worse, as it becomes evidently clear that persons are prepared to ignore established rules and principles. I do agree that the TSC should rescind Mr. Dookie’s appointment. From the rules it is clear that a mistake was made. Persons get the impression that members of the TSC who voted in support of Mr. Dookie’s appointment may have been coerced into doing so by Mr. Dookie’s copying his letter to Drs. Roger Luncheon and Nanda Gopaul. Mr. Dookie’s argument that his letter was copied for notification and not intended to coerce is not very credible when we continue to see the influence and consequences of political coercion everyday.
I was most impressed by Mr. George Cave’s letter to the newspapers addressing Mr. Dookie’s appointment. As honorary life member of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) it was most encouraging to know that there are still members of the GTU executive who are adherents of rules and ethics. Following this was a GTU release quoting Mr. Lance Baptiste, representing the views of the GTU. Then there was an editorial addressing the appointment and the role of the TSC. From Mr. Cave’s letter I am not sure if he was in Guyana at the time of GTU signing the five year agreement with the Ministry of Education. I would therefore be interested to hear his views on this agreement.
Teachers and many in society are of the view that the GTU agreement violated the said principles and practices Mr. Cave so passionately represents. I also take this opportunity to ask Mr. George Cave and Mr. Lance Baptiste to implore the GTU executive to respond to the concerns of the teachers of the Plaisance Branch. At the time of writing this letter the teachers are yet to receive an acknowledgment of their letter. These teachers are still to hear from GTU President Mr. Colywn King or General Secretary Ms. Coretta Mc Donald. Teachers are yet to be assured that their concerns will be addressed by the leadership they have elected to represent their interests.
Yours faithfully,
S. Alli
