| “I’m smiling because I was taught by my mother that whenever you are extremely annoyed, smile before you say or do the wrong thing,” was howFormer Mahdia Headmistress – Ms. Vanessa WilsonAdministrative Field Officer of the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), Lancelot Baptiste, prefaced his remarks regarding the infringement of the rights of a Union member.The member in question,Jerseys From China, whose case has been gaining the attention of the GTU for some time, now, is Ms. Vanessa Wilson, a graduate teacher who was tasked with heading the Region Eight Mahdia Secondary School. Wilson, because of the purported infringement of her rights has in fact asked the GTU to represent her legally.Recounting the genesis of Wilson’s case, Baptiste related that the woman commenced her appointment at the Grade ‘C’ School some three years ago, but for some reason or the other, was subsequently instructed to report to the Department of Education in Georgetown. This move was deemed a suspicious one, Baptiste noted, as according to him, “she was never given any letter of transfer nor was she given a letter of secondment.”Nevertheless, Wilson complied.Baptiste, who was at the time speaking at a press conference venued at the GTU’s Woolford Avenue headquarters, said that the head teacher reported to the Department of Education and there she was given tasks, characteristic of clerical work, as designated by education officers. “She was given such tasks as stapling leaflets, putting papers together and other such things…this is a graduate Head Mistress of a Grade ‘C’ Secondary School,” asserted the GTU Officer.This publication understands that Wilson’s situation had in fact, on numerous occasions,Discount NFL Jerseys, been a subject of intenseGTU Administrative Field Officer, Lancelot Baptiste,Cheap NFL Jerseys, is flanked by GTU’s General Secretary, Coretta McDonald (left) and GTU President Mark Lyte.discussions between Union officials and Senior Education Officers, including Chief Education Officer (CEO), Olato Sam.Baptiste disclosed though, that a decision by the Deputy Chief Education Officer (DCEO) (Administration), in the absence of the CEO, saw Wilson being referred to the St. George’s Secondary School on secondment. This therefore, meant that Wilson would take up an appointment at the school but would not be granted the privilege of performing as a senior teacher. “In other words when you go on secondment,Cheap NFL Jerseys co, especially if it is not stated, “seconded to perform the duties of” you then become the least of the staff members…” explained Baptiste as he reiterated “this is a graduate Headmistress being subjected to that.”He disclosed that several senior vacancies were advertised for the period 2014. And being a qualified teacher, Wilson decided to apply. She in fact applied to fill the position of Headmistress at the very St George’s Secondary School to which she was seconded.And according to Baptiste, based on information reaching the GTU, Wilson was the highest qualified applicant for that position when the Teaching Service Commission’s (TSC) selection process concluded. “One would have expected that she would have been appointed as the Headmistress of that school,” said the GTU Officer, who noted that “she was informed and the Union was also informed that it was the belief of a member of the Commission that she (Wilson) was not fit enough mentally to be appointed to that position and so the TSC against its own rules, agreed with that person when that person said he was going to refer her to the Medical Board of Guyana.”As such, Wilson was invited by the Medical Board to attend a session. “In all good faith she went because she was informed that it was said at a TSC meeting that once she satisfied the criteria at the Medical Board she will be given the appointment of Headmistress of St George’s Secondary,” said Baptiste.At the session, he noted that Wilson was subjected to the scrutiny and inspection of the doctors of the Medical Board, and at the conclusion was privy to a document which proclaimed that she was “fit and proper” for a promotion to a senior position.In fact, Baptiste intimated that under one of the headings – Psychiatry -which Wilson was examined, it was clearly outlined that “nothing was wrong with her (Wilson).”As a result, Wilson as well as the Union anticipated that her appointment was imminent. However, Baptiste noted that reports suggest that the very Commissioner who had earlier indicated that Wilson was not fit for the appointment “was not satisfied with the findings of the Medical Board and was asking that she be placed before a Psychiatrist.”Not willing to see its member be sidelined for no justifiable reason, the Union started to make representation on Wilson’s behalf.But, according to Baptiste, a few weeks ago, the TSC again met and recommended that the matter concerning Wilson be settled. “We (the Union) were made to understand that once the CEO declared that Wilson was fit and proper she would be appointed by the Commission,” said the GTU Officer.Currently the GTU is in possession of a document signed by the Deputy Chief Education Officer on behalf of the CEO which recommends the appointment of Wilson as the Headmistress of the Grade B St. George’s Secondary School with effect from January 1, 2015. The recommendation was in fact based on the report from the Medical Board. “The Commission had said that if it had received such a letter they will appoint Ms. Wilson…that document was sent to the Commission and everyone might have thought that was the end of it all,” said Baptiste who added, “Lo and Behold, the Union was reliably informed that the Commission did meet and is still adamant that Ms. Wilson must not be appointed as the Headmistress of the St George’s Secondary School.”According to Baptiste, “the Union feels that too much of an injustice is being done to this young,wholesale nfl jerseys, energetic, conscientious, hardworking teacher. One only has to look at her record wherever she was academically,Sale NFL Jerseys, and one would see how well she did for Guyana’s children.”“…As far as the Union is concerned we see no reason, no logical reason, why this teacher ought not to get her promotion,” added an irate Baptiste.As such the GTU Officer intimated that “the Union feels that we ought not to have any more dialogue with the Ministry of Education because we have been having that for the past two years concerning this matter.”Baptiste intimated too, “I have been reliably informed that the President and other officers of this Union have decided that they will seek legal advice into the non-appointment of Ms. Vanessa Wilson to the position of Headmistress, St George’s Secondary School.” |
