Stressing that he was upset by the “pervasive negativity” and approach of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), Minister of Education Ronald Jones says that more than 100 schools will open today to herald the start of the new academic year.
A fiery Jones, speaking at a St Philip North branch meeting at St Philip’s Primary School last night, lambasted the efforts of the union in the recent impasse with the ministry over the state of readiness and preparedness of some schools.
“If in a small place with limited resources, we can have 101 schools up and running for the start of the new school term, that is tremendous, that is remarkable.
“I am annoyed because a country does not build itself on pervasive negativity; it builds itself on people being positive, focused and interested in the development of their country.”
Jones said he was disappointed with the nature of trade unionism from the BUT, an organization he once headed for many years.
