More than three weeks after lamenting on social media about the condition of her assigned living quarters, non-resident Para-makatoi teacher Krystal Fisher finally has seen results. In a brief video recording posted on Face-book, Fisher praised Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, for acting in favour of her and other teachers in Paramakatoi.
Insisting that she was not in any way politically affiliated, Fisher said, “Minister of Education Priya Manickchand and team made a visit. They did notice, they did listen and the feeling of being heard, being acknowledged was both exhilarating and satisfying. It was more than Christmas morning because immediately upon arrival, issues were addressed promptly and internet was installed”. She also excitedly voiced that, because of the minister’s visit, she now has a new toilet bowl, “and so many other things”.
On January 21, this year, Fisher took to social media to showcase photos and videos of the deplorable condition of her apartment. Fisher had also penned a letter to the Regional Education Officer of Region Eight, explaining that she had been living in substandard conditions since January 2022, with faulty bathroom facilities, inadequate furnishings, wood ants infestation, and poor plumbing. The letter stated that despite complaints and requests for reimbursement for repairs she personally financed, she had received no assistance from the relevant authorities.
The teacher had also pointed out that she had experienced health issues due to the poor conditions, including her daughter falling ill due to mould infestation.
When contacted back then, Manickchand had informed Stabroek News that it was a matter for Minister of Local Govern-ment and Regional Development Sonia Parag. She had further explained that budgets for repair and maintenance were allocated to specific regions, and there was no provision for that at the Ministry of Education.
Following the publication of a Sunday Stabroek Editorial, regarding the issue, Manickchand had messaged a reporter of this newspaper thus: “This editorial can’t seriously be asking me and the MOE to supervise the other ministers and another ministry. I’m sure you see how clumsy that would be. We should sit down and do a full and proper exposition of how decentralisation works.”
Nevertheless, Manickchand on Saturday, along with the regional administration, paid a visit to schools and dormitories in Paramakatoi.
According to an elated Fisher, “Paramakatoi is on the move, we’re heading places”.
The minister’s visit took place two days before the industrial action planned by the Guyana Teachers Union to be undertaken by many teachers across Guyana today. In the video, Manickchand can be heard telling viewers to “look out for the many changes coming, Paramakatoi will soon be like many coastal schools.”
