THE Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) yesterday called for dissolution of the current Leila Ramson-led Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and appointment of a new commission comprising professional individuals.

During a protest staged yesterday by General Council representatives of the GTU outside the office of the TSC on Brickdam, GTU president Mark Lyte issued the foregoing call. Yesterday’s protest was a direct result of several appointments made by the commission.

Under the scorching midday sun, the protestors, comprising representatives from 39 branches across the country and numbering approximately 40 members of the council, held high their placards and peacefully vented their frustration. Chanting “Leila must go!” and “Corruption must stop!” the members supported the call made by the GTU president.

TSC APPOINTMENTS

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Lyte explained that the union has taken a firm decision to continuously protest before the office of the TSC until the current members are removed by the relevant authorities. Lyte disclosed that the TSC had made these appointments at a time when the matter was before the court. This, according to him, imposes a duty on the commission not to make any appointments until a decision has been arrived at in court.

Highlighting that the TSC’s action can be labelled as disregard for the law, the GTU president said the commission recently transferred a deputy head teacher from a Grade A school to a Grade B school in Berbice while the matter is still in the High Court.

LAW AND ORDER
“This commission seems not to have any regard for law and order in this country, and we feel a deliberate effort is afoot to stall and frustrate our members; and so we are out here today. We are tired of the deceitfulness of the Teaching Service Commission in relation to teachers’ appointments,” he said.

Lyte is calling on President David Granger to act immediately and appoint a new commission, which he said should comprise professional persons. Failure to do this, Lyte warned, will result in continued protest, which will attract increasing numbers of teachers from all corners of Guyana.

“The members here are just the General Council representatives from 39 branches across Guyana, but we’re going to have protests in every region if the Government does nothing,” Lyte declared.

Also weighing in on the issue was one of the annoyed protestors who identified herself as Debra Parker, a General Council representative. Parker said she was protesting the TSC’s “disrespectful, dishonest and corrupt practices.”

She revealed that teachers have been applying for promotion for quite some time now, but to no avail, because of the commission’s inability to do its job properly.
“We want the whole commission to go!” an impassioned Parker said, adding that the GTU is representing all teachers of Guyana.

(Ravin Singh)