BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AFTER calling for open discussions and negotiations with the Ministry of Education, the St. Kitts Teachers Union ( SKTU) is seeking to take matters into their own hands by launching a special operation starting this week.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday (Jul. 18), SKTU President Bishop Ron Collins disclosed that the initiative is called ‘Operation Duster’.
“With the rise of tension and in the environment of distrust with the very punitive actions that have been taken…the St. Kitts Teachers Union is launching what we call Operation Duster.
“Operation Duster is a series of actions and events in an effort to ensure that the rights of teachers and students are indeed protected and that Ministry actions are not oppressive and punitive from their part. Operation Duster will clean up the mess, soliciting the support from all stakeholders and NGOs, the church community, government, political parties, regional and international agencies.”
The first leg of the Operation will take the form of a public forum to be held at OJ’s Convention Centre tomorroe (Jul. 21) at 5:00 p.m. and Collins extended an invitation to the public to join the SKTU members in discussion.
He expressed the SKTU's wish to resist taking action but said that would only happen if the Ministry changes its policies.
“It is our desire to relax efforts once negotiations and discussions are in place. Once the recommendations are being implemented in a transparent way. Once the punitive actions of the Ministry are not implemented.”
