The GTU fails us yet again

Feb 19, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I make reference to the article “The Guyana Teachers’ Union leaves a sour taste in my mouth” in the Kaieteur News newspaper dated Saturday, February 4, 2012 and I too seek to make these observations.
I am peeved by the fact that the very organisation which was built to promote teachers’ development and growth in Guyana is the same organisation which seems to be impeding growth and development of its own.
The Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) formed a partnership with the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) over fifty years ago.  This relationship, between the Guyana Teachers’ Union and Canadian Teachers’ Federation was the brainchild of a former General Secretary and President, Bro. Basil B. Blair, A.A.
Ever since, it has committed itself to supporting our union in different ways where necessary.  One such support is an “Upgrading Programme” which it started since in the 1960’s.                                             The Programme is aimed at improving the professional and academic skills of the teachers in the Hinterland Region. Four tutors from the Canadian Teachers’ Federation and four  co-tutors from the Guyana Teachers’ Union are used as the facilitators for the different subject areas.   At the end of the Programme, certificates are issued to the participants based on their regularity and punctuality and also on their contributions during the sessions.  While no formal accreditation is given, teachers are being equipped with the necessary skills which will promote effective delivery of content.  These programmes are offered mainly to teachers of the Hinterland regions, since they are not privileged with the ease of access to tertiary institutions due to their terrain and location.
The programme was held last year, like many previous years.  However, it was totally disappointing when Senior Officers of the Guyana Teachers’ Union came back complaining that the workshop was a great failure because the meals were not as tasty as they desired.  The meals maybe were not as delicious as they wanted or maybe not up to their approval but the Canadian Facilitators ate their meals without complaining.  I guess they were matured and had more important things to worry about. The officers went as far as emailing the facilitators after they left, for them to verify that the meals were not delicious.  The persons hired to cook were cooks for the dormitory of the institution at which the workshop was held.  They gave of their best but were met with harsh words.
The cooks decided to pack up their bags to leave.  They were however, consoled by the Second Vice President Sister Aileen Williams, the Regional Vice President Sister Desiree Van Lewin, Essequibo and Mr. Lancelot Baptiste the Field Officer responsible for planning and executing the workshop.
My concern was, “Were the objectives of the workshop achieved?  Yes!  Over one hundred and twenty teachers benefited. The food was not tasty so what, everybody has those days, either the food may have too much salt, very little salt, etc.  But of all the reports brought back, the senior officers chose to labour on the food instead of pointing out how good the workshop was conducted – A major failure.
An informal investigation through talking with teachers and other persons who attended such workshops in previous years, as to why they thought the reports were bitter, revealed the following opinions.
1. One person lamented, “This is the cleanest workshop.  Usually, some officers who were previously in charge would buy a suitcase and use the money provided for the workshop to purchase items for themselves to bring back to Georgetown, so maybe they wanted to hijack the workshop to control the spending.”
The GTU/CTF workshop 2012 – Another Major Failure –Unfortunately, due to the inability of the General Secretary to submit necessary information in a timely manner to the CTF, this golden opportunity went by.  Many attempts were made to solicit the speedy completion of the necessary forms so as to allow budgeting and requisition of funds for the project, but all the missives were ignored.  What is horrible about this fact is that the correspondence from the Caribbean Teachers’ Federation which should have been read at the General Council Meeting in January 2012 about the workshop being discontinued, either mysteriously disappeared or the missive was deliberately hidden and therefore not read by the General Secretary, Sister Coretta McDonald.
This is a simple but major circumstance which shows the incompetence of our leaders.  So my colleagues of the Hinterlands do not put your hopes up this year, maybe next year with a new General Secretary.
Some Senior Officers of the Guyana Teachers need to understand that GTU is serious business.  While they humor themselves, other entities on which they depend or which depend on them will be moving ahead, whether or not GTU gets on board.  “Should we believe that the Ministry of Education deliberately left them out of the team putting together the Senior Vacancy List or was somebody too busy to realize that the time for Senior Vacancy List was approaching?”
GTU needs to stop appearing to be busy, and get busy.  Be more proactive instead of reactive, wake up.  Some Senior Officers of GTU must not appear to be seen only at GTU’s election time, but service to their members must be an ongoing exercise.
Upset and neglected teacher

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