THE Guyana Teachers Union Biennial Elections 2010 is well on its way. The ballots are out and our teachers have started to vote. In the letter columns, there were several letters about discrepancies and constitution violations; these jolted my mind as to why persons are seeking to lead a notable organization can be so unprofessional. But on last Wednesday evening, whilst in conversation with a niece and nephew of mine, who are young teachers, they told me that four ladies visited their separate schools and had dialogue with their head teacher and some teachers of the schools. These ladies, the General Secretary, Treasurer, and President (ag) and Ms Lesmeine Collins, Mr. John Adams allegedly visited them. They said that when the respective teachers of the schools are finished with voting that they must send their ballots to the GTU Hall or keep them and call them. They offered to pick them up to assist with posting. Knowing what happens at elections at the GTU, I see no reason why these union representatives should be collecting ballots to help teachers post them, when the envelopes already are self- addressed and stamped for easy posting at any post office in Guyana. Some of the schools reportedly “visited” by these individuals were St John’s Community High School, Anna Catherina Nursery, Cornelia Ida Primary, Vreed-en-Hoop Community High, and some schools on the East Bank Demerara area.

My deduction about this is that these persons seem to want to be involved in voting irregularities or want to win at all costs. It is sad to note that many of these women were fingered by the North Georgetown Branch members at their elections; they were the ones who made speedy comments at a press conference before finding out all the facts about the allegation made against former president, and look what they are doing now! The letter writer about voting with your head is right, but I want to add, teachers you need to be wise; do the professionally correct thing and let us not have anymore negatives coming out of the organization I once served and still love.