WEDNESDAY MARKED SIX WEEKS since the 30 striking teachers at The Alexandra School went back on the job.
And the assurance given by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart that other stages to bring a permanent resolution to the situation at the school would follow with “great dispatch” remains just that. His intervention brought three weeks of industrial action to a halt.
As has been the case for several weeks now, president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union, Mary Redman, is saying “there is nothing to report”.
She told the WEEKEND NATION Stuart had initiated contact with her on at least four occasions, before leaving for the CARICOM Inter-Sessional Meeting in Suriname earlier this week. They would have missed calls to each other twice.
Redman said she remained confident that the situation was being worked on, and that Stuart had given her the assurance that things “were in train” when they spoke.
As far as the teachers who returned to work in good faith are concerned, Redman said they were “frustrated”, but were still being patient. She met with them on Monday to bring them up to date on her telephone conversations with Stuart.
In spite of Stuart’s intention of a seamless transition of the teachers back into school, all appears not to be well.
It is understood that there is little contact between the teachers and principal Jeff Broomes, whose separation they are seeking.
Additionally, reliable sources close to the situation say another matter could soon be brewing with the teacher who reportedly held a second form boy down and cut his muff hairstyle.
The Ministry of Education, through Chief Education Officer Laurie King, and Broomes subsequently apologized to the boy’s parents. (YB)
