Redman hopes Service Commission announcement more than just talk

President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), Mary-Anne Redman, hopes that the Prime Minister’s announcement of the establishment of a Teachers’ Service Commission is more than just election talk.

“The BSTU has been asking for this year after year after year,” she reminded members during a special meeting held at the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), yesterday.

On Sunday the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart, publicly gave educators the assurance that in a matter of weeks, Government will have Section 89A of the Constitution of Barbados proclaimed to make provision for the Commission, which will help deal with many of the problems facing that profession.

“I understand that it is supposed to be set up in a couple of weeks and I am a little concerned about that aspect of it because we need proper consultation. We need the involvement of all the stakeholders; we need to understand the Constitution, the composition of this Commission and the structure,” Redman pointed out.

“Because it does not make sense to have a Teachers’ Service Commission with a similar structure such as the Police Service Commission, where the actions to be taken still end up lumped together with the rest of the Public Service Commission – because nothing effectively would have changed.”

The BSTU president explained that what is needed is a Teachers’ Service Commission with a different type of structure, that will allow their issues to be dealt with effectively, efficiently and expeditiously. “Otherwise they could save the time, effort and money that the setting up of such a commission could cost.”

Redman further stressed, “So we need to be engaged in this whole plan as soon as possible.” (TL)