The Nation’s Online Editor Carol Martindale looks at What’s Trending in Barbados today.
Tongues are still wagging about yesterday’s announcement by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart that striking teachers at the Alexandra School will be returning to the classroom tomorrow after being off the job for close to three weeks.
Readers are today happy that teachers are heading back to school, but many are questioning the next move that will help to return the school to normalcy. Some also want to know why the PM only met with one group involved in the dispute – the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU).
Rikuteufu Patio: “I am happy that the PM got the teachers to go back to school but I must say that I am a little dismayed by his “one sidedness” in this matter. Mr PM who wrote this report you are talking about? Who did that person interview in order to come up with this report? Are reports not often misleading? If so why wasn’t Mr. Broomes given an opportunity to defend himself.”
Olivia Hoyte: “I am even more disappointed that he (PM) was not balanced. For those who would want to ask why I said such, it is because he didn’t care to hear from the other persons affected in this saga and I thought by neglecting such he was biased and I know from his speech today (Monday) repercussions are going to come.”
Ric Santucie: “Teachers are back at work which was what all you all wanted and you are still vex and nobody ain’t give a viable workable solution to the impasse. Everybody is seeing individuals and personalities and not the issues. Commenting with emotion and not reason every single suggestion I have read so far will make matters worse not better.
Farrah Gibbs: “Why is the public still bickering? You wanted the Prime Minister to intervene- done; you wanted classes to resume – done; you wanted a resolution to be found-done; you wanted teaching time that was lost to be recovered-done.! Accept that teachers have rights and move on peoples. …”
Peter M Earle: “ The P.M should be commended for finally bringing this impasse to an end. What he did was to broker a deal with the teachers..i.e. a return to work with the proviso that a process will be put in place…. In terms of solving an industrial relations issue at the level of the P.M there is nothing that says he has to speak to Broomes and his representatives. He would have been e briefed by Minister Jones and the Board. He also read the Inspection Report. He did what he could do and what was crucial. The P.M or any other Minister cannot issue instructions to any Government employee or fire anybody. He therefore has to allow for a process to take place which will see the ministry taking the necessary action.”
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