LEADER OF the Opposition Barbados Labour Party Mia Mottley wants the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and the Ministry of Education to call a truce on the current industrial tension, so as not to affect children registered to take the Common Entrance Examination next week.
Over the past weeks, the unions have been embroiled in a dispute with government on a number of issues, with the latest being a deadline given by the BUT to Minister of Education Ronald Jones for a meeting.
In what could be considered a non-partisan approach to the welfare of the over 3 500 primary school children, Mottley, had to appeal to her disciples “to cease and settle” when she called on Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to give leadership to the matter.
She was speaking to party faithfuls Wednesday night after former calypso monarch John King was elected unopposed to contest the St Philip West seat, now held by Democratic Labour Party cabinet member Dr David Estwick.
She said if the parties could not reach an agreement tomorrow [Thursday], “then a white flag must go up on both sides calling a truce and agreeing to meet again in two weeks”.
Barbados Labour Party leader Mia Mottley and St Philip West candidate John King share a light moment with Senator Kerrie Symmonds (out of picture) during the nomination process in the constituency.
She told Jones to step back and call the unions along with the Prime Minister “because sometimes you may need the intervention of a leader”.
It was at this time some audience members questioned Mottley’s reference to the term “leader” but she told them to “cease and settle, whether you like it or not, he holds the constitutional position of prime minister.
“…. I ask tonight Freundel Stuart and Ronald Jones, but equally the leadership of the [BUT] and the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union, to put their differences one side for now. There is an event that is happening in a matter of days; it’s perhaps the most traumatic event on a child and a parent …,” said Mottley, a former Minister of Education for seven years, while speaking at Gordon Walters Primary School, St Philip.
She said the children had one chance at the exam and , “there is no argument that could be so important between the unions and government that cannot be put on hold and I know of what speak … tomorrow [today] might be a bank holiday for us, but it must not be a bank holiday for the prime minister or Minister Of Education ….
“All efforts ought be used to bring good sense to the resolution of this matter. And if it can’t be resolved … then all sides must call a truce and deal with it in a few weeks’ time … allowing for the children to go school on Friday and Tuesday and for parents to have the comfort over the weekend to comfort them,” said Mottley. (JS)
