…with teachers
President Ali just met with headmasters, deputies, and other educators to announce a soft loan programme – $15 million @ 3.75% interest – so that teachers who’ve received house lots can build their houses. Now, this is not an inconsequential move; and – on top of the programme of duty-free cars for certain categories of teachers – it should go a long way to have the professionals live with the dignity that went with the profession back in the day.
Teaching was one of the earliest professions open to the newly-freed, formerly enslaved Africans on the plantations, and teachers formed the first stratum of middle class living in the newly-established villages. Education was seen as a surefire way out of the degradation of labouring under the whip; so, many of our most accomplished citizens started out as teachers. But as with so many facets of Guyanese life, this bastion of respectability all came crashing down – like Humpty Dumpty – under the ministrations of Forbes Burnham. This is rather ironic, since his father was a teacher and then headmaster, and one would’ve thought he’d try to build, rather than destroy, the educational system that gave him his platform for success!!
As the system imploded, teachers were reduced to selling “sweeties and sugar cake” to their charges, so as to keep body and soul together. The respect they commanded quickly dissipated – along with educational standards. Many took to rum drinking after classes – which further lowered their respectability. But when the PPP returned to office on Oct 5th, 1992, along with the rest of society and our institutions, the educational system – with teachers as its linchpin – was slowly rehabilitated.
One of the ways Burnham undermined the educational system was to subvert the union that represented teachers. As with everything else, he demanded total control; and – irony of ironies! – wouldn’t brook any disagreement as to how to “mould” the Guyanese nation!! At one point, he launched a paper union to replace the GTU, and totally politicised this group of individuals, who were in such key positions as to create the new Guyanese man and woman!
And we arrive at the action by the President, that’ll certainly be criticised by the GTU for “bypassing” them in collective bargaining. But as with everything else, this situation has a context, and here the context is that the Teachers Union has become an arm of the PNC – of which its General Secretary is an Executive member. She’s one of the most strident – to put it mildly! – critics of the Government, who gets very down and dirty about the President and VP.
Her posture – a mirror of the Opposition Leaders she supports fervently – hardly sets the ground for any sort of “discussion”!!
…about the Haitian intervention
some time ago, your Eyewitness had noted, with great interest, the intervention of some Opposition members when a number of Haitians – who were being trafficked into Brazil – had been intercepted by the law. The proud history of Haiti in leading the first successful slave revolution in the world – to gain independence – was invoked, and the need to assist this pioneering nation with freedom was raised.
Well, the UN Security Council has finally approved a motion, tabled by the US and Ecuador, for that force headed by Kenya to intervene and bring some order to that land, that’s being held hostage by armed gangs. Caricom has been asked to provide some manpower to back up the Kenyans, and Bahamas and Jamaica have stepped up to the crease – albeit rather modestly. The US is financing the initiative.
But your Eyewitness had expected the Opposition defenders of Haitian freedom would’ve come out by now to demand that our Government send some troops to assist. Are they not our brothers?
…on cocaine trafficking
Here we go again – another massive cocaine bust in Europe from a shipment allegedly originating from our mudland!! Now, we know we don’t produce any cocaine, and we’re merely a transshipment conduit. So, who owns the ship??
