Dear Editor,
The Department of Education in Region 6 has made a huge blunder due to one education officer. The hearing at the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) following the officer’s complaint against me for “Conduct unbecoming of a teacher: Leaving the country without permission” was cancelled after I received a telephone call from the TSC on Tuesday afternoon at work. This was because Mr Lancelot Baptiste, my Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) Representative (who was apprised of my situation) informed them of the proof that I had produced to the officers of the TSC.
Now, I have received several more letters from the said officer on Tuesday at work. Apart from withdrawing the original charge that I did not have permission to leave Guyana, “after further clarification on the issue it was found that Mr. Suseran was given approval by the Regional Democratic Council to spend Christmas Vacation in the United States… The charge should therefore be ‘Irregularity’ and not ‘Conduct unbecoming of a teacher.’” Not only was their “clarification” late, but incorrect. I not only had the permission of the RDC but the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs as well. Every time I want to leave Guyana, I have to endure a very lengthy process to get the necessary permission in Georgetown.
Anyhow, the officer is recommending charges against me to the TSC for “Irregularity” ‒ that is, not resuming duty on the first day of school in January 2013 and January 2014. I was overseas and applied for No-Pay Leave, which was granted by the Region 6 Personnel Department in January 2013.
From what I know, no-pay leave is no-pay leave. If I did not turn up for duty on the first day of school during those periods, then don’t pay me. Is the problem that I am visiting the USA frequently?
I am the only child here. I have to visit my relatives very often in the USA and I seek the necessary permission before I do. I only return to this country because I want to continue serving this nation.
The time will come soon when I will have the opportunity to leave these shores permanently and I will have to make a conscious decision. But the attitude of these people and the environment that they are creating for me is not encouraging at all. In fact, it is very frustrating.
Why are this officer and the Department of Education doing this? Why isn’t the Regional Education Officer not saying or doing anything about this? This is a huge mistake which was made by one of her officers who clearly did not investigate properly whether I had my permission to leave documents or not, and instead acted on a baseless “report” to the Department of Education, and nearly a year after the fact, wrote me recommending disciplinary action by the TSC. Nearly a year later ‒ why is that? I would like an apology and an audience with the Minister of Education about my victimization by the Department of Education.
Twelve years in this profession, and never before have I been targeted like this. All of this is causing me to become very frustrated and it is taking a huge toll on me.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Suseran
