Dear Editor,
The Guyana Teachers’ Union makes reference to its letter to Mrs Leila Ramson, Chairperson, Teaching Service Commission, dated 14th January, 2016, on the topic ‘Appointment Of Mr Imram Ally’ (see copy attached). The Union had no reason to contact its nominee, Mrs Avril Crawford, because it had done its homework and so was in possession of not only the appointment letter to Mr Ally dated 4th January, 2016, on the topic ‘Administrative Appointment As A Senior Teacher’, which was sent by the Secretary, Teaching Service Commission, Mr Pulandar Kandhi (see copy attached), but it also had in its possession a copy of a transfer B dated 11th December, 2015 from Mrs Leah Ally, graduate Head-of-Department of Winifred Gaskin Memorial |Secondary School, the wife of Mr Imran Ally. In applying for the transfer Mrs Ally cited as one of her reasons, “To facilitate impending appointment” (see copy attached). The Union presumes that she could only have meant the anticipated appointment of her husband to the headship of the said school.
The Guyana Teachers’ Union has no confidence in, nor respect for the Leila Ramson chaired Teaching Service Commission and is demanding the immediate dissolution of the said commission.
Re: the question of “competition” between Mr Ally and Ms Nathalie Green, Headmistress acting, of the Winifred Gaskin Secondary School, the Union is aware that Ms Green had not applied for promotion to the headship of the school during the senior promotion exercise of 2015; neither did Mr Imran Ally.
The Lelia Ramson-chaired Teaching Service Commission is incompetent, and this can lead to discrimination, as was seen in the non-appointment of Mr Alvin Johnson to the position of HM, Leonora Primary School. See attached copy of a letter dated, Thursday, July 27th, 2006, under the topic ‘Completion of Senior Appointments Exercise, 2006’ which refers to the unprofessional and unfair procedures of the Teaching Service Commission. It was written by Mr George N Cave, who was then, like Ms Avril Crawford now, the Guyana Teachers’ Union’s nominee on the Teaching Service Comission. Like Mr Cave, Ms Crawford had also voiced her dissent over the senior appointments of 2015. Mr Cave, in his letter, also spoke of the intervention of a past President of Guyana.
The Lelia Ramson-chaired Commis-sion must go. The Union is afraid of what further illegal and unprofessional acts may be committed if this Commission is allowed to function.
Yours faithfully,
Coretta Mc Donald
General Secretary
Guyana Teachers’ Union
