Could Teachers Have Been Paid Already?

There is more from B.N.T.U. President Luke Palacio, who sat with the media this evening to discuss other concerns, including the salary adjustment.  Prior to the 2017 budget presentation, Prime Minister Barrow announced that increments for teachers would not be affected.  While government has stayed true to its word, the B.N.T.U. views the latest action, in respect of the million dollar bonus by the Ministry of Education, as a change of tack.

Luke Palacio

Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U.

“For the teachers, as far as we are concerned, that salary adjustment and the compensation should be reflected in our end of April salary because teachers get paid once a month.”

Reporter

“Do you already know more or less how many teachers would stand to benefit from that one million?”

Luke Palacio

“No.  We have no idea because we were not provided with the list of persons who were not on strike or those who went to school as were requested on the third of January, because those seem to be the category of persons that the minister has indicated would be compensated.  And again, we have to look at some of the inconsistencies, if you will.  These teachers were promised compensation, payment for the day that you were not on strike and payment for going to school for those four days in January.  Now you turn around and decide that you are going to give them an honorarium because you cannot pay them.  We are supposed to be educators and we are supposed to be able to decipher the difference in those types of position that we see going on with the Minister of Education.”