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FRIDAY,
JANUARY 11, 2019
VOLUME 113, No.02
www.thevincentian.com
EC$1.50
: (From left): President of the SVGTU Wendy Bynoe and President of the PSU Elroy Boucher called out their members to protest on January 29.
by WILLIAM ‘KOJAH’ ANTHONY THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE STAGING of a joint press conference involving the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) and the Public Service Union (PSU) appeared to have triggered a response from the government. Addressing that press conference held last Tuesday at the SVGTU’s headquarters, McKies Hill, President of the SVGTU Wendy Bynoe announced that they have been invited for discussions with the Prime Minister today, January 11. This did not deter the Teachers’ Union President, who in her remarks pointed to “issues affecting members’ productivity and progress”, as
forming part of those discussions. The conditions at some schools, described as “deplorable” by Bynoe, will also be on the agenda. The Collective Agreement between the Government and the SVGTU initialled in 2005, has been in limbo since 2008, according to Bynoe. She cited Article 16 of that Agreement regarding reappointment of teachers who contest general elections, and the failure by Government to adhere to this, as a “sore point.” The Teachers Union President is anxious that the matter of salary adjustment be addressed, a matter she regards as “long overdue.” She lamented the absence of a response from the ruling Unity Labour Party government on the matter of salaries.
PSU in support The Teachers are not alone in their dissatisfaction with the government’s tardiness with respect to addressing salary adjustments. They have the full support of the PSU which, Continued on Page 3.
PSC LOSES ANOTHER COURT BATTLE AS IT DID IN THE MATTER involving Otto Sam, the Public Service Commission (PSC) has once again been found wanting in its action by a Court of Law. In a recent ruling handed down by Justice Esco Henry sitting at the High Court here, the learned judge found that the PSC “had failed to
comply with specific Public Service Regulations in respect of non-promotion of five public officers. The five officers involved were Elroy Boucher (current president of the PSC), Joel Poyer, Agnes Llewellyn, Kejo Peters, and Conroy James. According to the PSU
case file, the officers were bypassed for promotion in favour of persons with less qualification and experience.
In the PSC’s face Justice Henry declared that the PSC Elroy Boucher (left) and Joel Poyer – two PSU stalwarts – were among the Continued on Page 3. five officers in whose names the claim against the PSC was made.