The implementation of parking meters within the vicinity of schools was the proverbial straw that broke the back of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) and led to scores of members from the East Coast, Georgetown and East and West Coast Demerara branches holding a candle light vigil on Main Street last evening.
Stabroek News understands that the teachers chose to have the vigil in front of the official residence of both the President and the Prime Minister because they wanted the numerous issues and concerns facing Guyana’s teachers to be given the attention it deserves.
“This was a mandate from the members of the branches and by extension the teachers of Guyana,” one participant told Stabroek News.
President of the GTU Mark Lyte also explained that the vigil is about more that parking meters.
“It is about the many unsolved issues we have with both the Ministry of Education and the Teaching Service Commission,” he explained.
The union has since 2015 been engaged in a protracted negotiation for a new multi-year agreement on wages, salaries and allowances. Additionally several provisions from the previous multi-year agreement have still to be fulfilled included provisions for duty-free concessions and debunching.
Further the union has been engaged in a protracted legal battle with the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) over the promotion of senior teachers. Though they were in November granted an order by the High Court directing the TSC to review the 2015 senior promotons list this has not yet been accomplished.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo last evening engaged the teachers as they stood outside his home and invited them to discuss their concerns. He was however unable to give any guarantees beyond a promise to speak with the subject Ministers about the issues raised and have them addressed.
The teachers will continue to hold the vigil tonight and tomorrow in hopes that their concerns will be addressed.
According to Lyte, the GTU expects wage and salary negotiations to conclude by February month end, promotions to be approved and duty-free concessions granted accordingly while paid parking for teachers should be reviewed.
