Opposition Leader Says Teachers’ Love Won

John Briceño

Following today’s announcement that teachers have secured a major win in the high court, we asked P.U.P. Party Leader John Briceño for a brief comment on the outcome of the mediation.  He says that the union stayed the course in defense of its membership and that they prevailed, despite the pettiness of the Minister of Education.

John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader

“I am elated by the news.  I think that the teachers have demonstrated their love, not only for the teaching profession but for the country, that they were prepared to take that ultimate sacrifice, that even if they had to cut their salaries so that they can make their point clear on the issues of good governance, the issues about the senate inquiry, corruption in government, that they are prepared to take that stand.  It shows a level of immaturity on the part of the Minister of Education, a level of spitefulness and vindictiveness because the teachers, right after the strike was over, they did demonstrate and they did show a willingness to put back those eleven days.  But the deputy prime minister, Honorable Patrick Faber wanted to spite the teachers and wanted to go on and have vengeance on them and to beat them into submission.  The teachers said, “Hold on, why are you going to take away our salaries and you still want us to make up the time?  We are prepared to make up for the time.”  And I know that for a fact because we spoke with several principals and teachers who were saying we are prepared to make up the time because we love these children and we want them to get back the time.  But because of, again, the spitefulness and the vindictiveness of the Deputy Prime Minister and, by extension, the U.D.P. government, the teachers had to go to court and I am very happy with the results by the courts that the government must pay their salaries and that the teachers from day one were saying that they were prepared to give back the time so that the children can have the necessary education that that they are entitled to as children, as the future of this country.”