Dear Editor,
AS the country knows, some members of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) have been on strike since August 27th, 2018. Even prior to that I have noticed on social media, with great amusement, the consistent efforts of former Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand to criticise the government and the current minister of education on how the dispute between the GTU and MoE is being addressed.

Mr. Editor, what has Ms. Manickchand done for education in this country that makes her qualified to criticise the current government? Ms. Manickchand has been busy on social media discrediting efforts made by the government and the Education Ministry to resolve the issue with teachers. If Ms. Manickchand has never been consistent about anything in her life, she has certainly scored big this time around. Editor, Ms. Manickchand lacks the authority to speak on the plight of teachers and their need for a wage increase.

I refer you to a May 31, 2012 article in the Kaieteur News which carried the headline “If you don’t like the salary, quit – Manickchand”. The lead sentence of the article reads, “Teachers who are dissatisfied with their salaries and are not dedicated to educating the nation’s children should quit the job. This stern warning was sent by Education Minister Priya Manickchand, during a recent public consultation at the New Amsterdam Secondary School, Berbice.”

Mr. Editor, I hope now you and your dedicated readers understand why I am perplexed at the sudden interest of Ms. Manickchand in the welfare of teachers, at this important time when the wage issue is a deal breaker. It is clear that Ms. Manickchand never appreciated the sacrifices that teachers made with the salary her government was paying the nation’s educators. This PPP/C parliamentarian basically had a “take it or leave it” attitude. An attitude which has since the beginning of the negotiations, this time around, has not been displayed by the current Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry.

Further, Mr. Editor, Ms. Manickchand who sat in the position of Education Minister prior to the change of government in 2015, had failed during her tenure to address the issue of debunching with the Guyana Teachers’ Union. That matter has been inherited by this government. Knowing this, Ms. Manickchand still finds it fit to criticise this government on how it is handling the matter. I must say, at least this government actually offered a lump sum of money to fix debunching. What did Ms. Manickchand do? What can the records show?

Mr. Editor, I am amused at the extent to which politicians go to acquire votes. It seems as though every national issue reveals a new low to which persons are willing to go in order to achieve self-preservation. It is void of integrity and sickening to watch. Maybe, I should not be surprised since it was Ms. Manickchand who violated all diplomatic protocols and ‘cuss out’ the former U.S Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt, at his official residence.

I urge all right-minded folk to educate their brothers and sisters and help them to see beyond the veil that Ms. Manickchand is trying to place over their eyes, as she attempts to paint the image of a caring woman who has the interest of teachers at heart. Mr. Editor, it is during these sensitive and emotional times that Guyanese need to be vigilant and mindful about whose support they cling to. Some politicians, like Ms. Manickchand, are opportunists, waiting for the right time to crawl out of their ‘nook and crannies’ to score political points. We need to see beyond the propaganda. Ms. Manickchand on her Facebook page is seen critiquing the Education Ministry’s contingency plan, a plan that existed during her time as minister of education. It could be that due to incompetence that Ms. Manickchand never knew the plan existed since she was not faced with such a situation.
Lucky her! Ms. Manickchand’s PPP/C government at the time was known for offering an annual five per cent increase to teachers, a tactic which sought to keep the GTU at bay from asking for larger increases. However, teachers must appreciate that since the government has changed, they have more leverage, options and a bigger voice when it comes to bargaining with their employer, the State. While he was in opposition, now President David Granger had promised the rebirth of democracy in this country.

It is through this commitment that the GTU and the MoE can be engaged properly, according to the law, in the collective bargaining agreement, a process that was ignored and avoided by the previous administration. Although it is unfortunate that teachers had to engage in strike action, this process speaks to teachers and public servants who now have a bigger voice at the bargaining table to advocate for their rights. Solidarity forever.

Regards
Elizabeth Williams