Holness apologises to teachers for Shaw's remarks

Sunday, May 09, 2010

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Education Minister Andrew Holness Friday made an impassioned plea to the island's public sector teachers to accept the Government's current wage offer and apologised for recent comments made by Finance Minister Audley Shaw which stopped just short of calling the teachers' demand unreasonable.

Last week, Shaw reportedly intimated that the teachers' demand for retroactive monies was unreasonable, given the poor results among students in the recent Grade Four Numeracy Test. At the time, Jamaica Teachers' Association President Michael Stewart described the comments as "unkind" and labelled them as an attempt by the minister to compare oranges and apples.

Shaw's comments came as the teachers were engaged in a two-day strike to press their demand for Government to pay up the $4 billion in retroactive monies due to them this year. Government is insisting it cannot pay more than $1 billion now, and is asking the teachers to accept the remaining sums over the next three years in keeping with the terms of an agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund. In all, the teachers are owed $8 billion, but half of that sum is due this year.

"There have been some comments that I know would have hardened some positions," said Holness. "At this time, I would like to express my regret at those comments and say to our teachers, in spite of everything, let us put that aside and look towards the future."

Holness's plea came as the central executive of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) was locked in a meeting in Kingston to decide their next move, following the deadlock with government over their wage package.

The teachers have since decided to go on another two-day strike starting tomorrow.

Ironically, the education minister's appeal came as he addressed educators from the University of the West Indies during the institution's official opening of its campus in Mandeville.

"It is not an unreasonable sentiment on the part of the teachers to ask that they be paid what they're due," he said. "But the truth is that we simply cannot and dare not break the commitment that we've made toward fiscal responsibility. We are now, for the first time, at a point of reckoning where we are seeing our way out of almost an eternal financial crisis... and once we announce what those deficit targets are, we cannot and dare not break those deficit targets."

But Opposition parliamentarian Peter Bunting said while the minister's appeal appeared sincere, his case was not being assisted by the insensitive remarks of some of his colleagues, and his negotiations are going to be all the more difficult because often it's not what you have to do but how it is done.

"If you approach the partners with arrogance and contempt, then you're not going to encourage them to be as co-operative as they would be if they were approached with understanding and respect," said Bunting.

He said that in his own experience "...teachers are among the most reasonable and tolerant group. When they have no option but to resort to militancy you know that they are really at the end of their tether".

He said any further strike by the public sector teachers would affect his Central Manchester constituency, as education is now the biggest economic driver in Mandeville, following the fall-out in bauxite. There are well over 1,000 public sector teachers in Central Manchester alone.

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COMMENTS (16)

Kwame Gordon-Martin
5/10/2010

I for one would agree with the sentiment that teachers need to produce better results and that their contracts should be performance based, but guess what, the time to do that is before the contract is signed. You cannot agree to a contract, then break the contract because it's inconvenient. It shows a certain lack of respect for the law from the very people who enforce the law. Furthermore, the teachers are flexible enough to only ask for a portion of their due, so give them their due. Our typical partisan moronic behaviour allows people like Audley Shaw to question peoples performance, seriously? What has he ever done, ever?

Elaine Brown
5/10/2010

Given the current state of the local economy, and that of the world in general, is it so difficult for the teachers to understand that the $4B is just not available ALL AT ONCE, AND RIGHT NOW?? I have heard Ministers Shaw and Holness say repeatedly that the teachers will get their money, just not all of it immediately. Do these teachers realize how many persons have been laid off over the last 2 years, and how many consider themselves lucky to have their hours cut back instead of being separated from their posts because of downsizing/restructuring to deal with the state of the world economy? C'mon people get real!!!

gary lee
5/9/2010

The basic and primary school teachers are some of the best, and take care of the children wonderfully. If the Gov. cannot meet their obligation then the teachers may just have to sacrifice a little longer. Of course, others in the society such as nurses, police officers and politicians must all share the burden of meeting IMF target budget requirements.

Elaine Dore
5/9/2010

Will all government ministers,critics and cynics(including those who posted here) who are able to now make derogatory comments, BECAUSE OF TEACHERS AND WHO THINK THEY CAN TEACH A CLASS OF 40+ STUDENTS, PLEASE STEP FORWARD.

Clara Brooks
5/9/2010

Neutral Justice says;
Jamaican teachers are some of the best world wide, no question, however, strikes are dunce moves that only limit the educational goals of our students, and that is against the law. Shaw's questioning of the teachers abilities are sentiments expressed by his friends in the office of the prime minister, and maybe the reason why he did not see it fit that the teachers merit their retro. Teachers must not allow these degrading talks from someone who's responsible for signing off on some of the teachers official documents.

Claude Ingram
5/9/2010

Good cop bad cop.
Good cop - "There have been some comments that I know would have hardened some positions," said Holness. "At this time, I would like to express my regret at those comments and say to our teachers, in spite of everything, let us put that aside and look towards the future."
Bad cop - “If the teachers fail to comply, the Labour Minister said the matter would be reported to the IDT, which would take several steps including a Court Order, an injunction and court sanctions.”

Leighton Williams
5/9/2010

Mr. Shaw, and most other politicians, would be paupers if they were to be paid based on results. The "good" Education Minister would also be held accountable for the performance of his subordinates (teachers), because he is, by extension, their "boss". The government "dare not break the commitment to IMF" but they can flout contract law when it affects us - their bosses. GOJ your appraisal is at hand.

Dorlan H. Francis
5/9/2010

Audley Shaw has nothing to apologise for. The teachers are spoilt brats and are indeed unreasonable. Their performance speaks for itself with the quality of the students that they are turning out.
These people who settled for two consecutive social contract which only gave them 10% increase (20%) over 4 yrs. From a govern that cause over $350 million to be paid out for work that was not done, from a government that "ran with it" knowing fully well that there was nothing to run with; and from a government that STUPIDLY CHOSE (no body was demanding the kind of interest that was paid) to pay HUGE interest on government paper. Yet they cannot satisfy with 60% increase over 2 years paid over time by a government who is cleaning up a pile of bull scatology and who is facing the worst economic environment since the great depression. The teachers are playing politics and that is all there is to it.

Wa Tch
5/9/2010

This is typical of this govt. Cuss of people and use high handed manoeuvres and then say sorry when they get licks!
The things is they then revert to their true arrogant form so we see that their "apology" was insincere.
In this case it is even worse because all now Shaw has not retracted. Good try Holness but we see it for what it is.

Richard Edwards
5/9/2010

While I believe that there are times when we make remarks that we would not normally make under certain circumstances. I also believe that the remarks came from Mr Shaw, and as such, the apology should be coming directly from him. It is also true that Mr Holness is part of the government, and can offer an apology on behalf of his goverment, only thing, it certainly would not have the same effect as if it came from Mr Shaw. Everyone on this page know that I am not a fan of politics nor politicians in Jamaica, but I will say this, Mr Holness is one of those Ministers that I personally feel have his country's interest at heart, and I firmly believe he can be a model for the other Ministers to emulate, but no human being is infallable, and so he makes mistakes too, and apologizing for Mr Shaw was one of them, but I think he is a different breed of jamaican politician who is serious and committed to the job he has undertaken as MOE
Richard Edwards NYC
betterlifeforjamaicans@yahoo

Sam Richards
5/9/2010

@Oface yes shaw is wrong they are asking for what has already been agreed
& if you start rewarding teachers based on students exam results then you are asking for trouble
if you have to miss school because your parents have been laid off & can't afford the fees should the teachers be penalised ?
Yuh mus tink seh yuh name Rikky Trooper

Petal Williams
5/9/2010

Holness is not Shaw so apology not accepted. I pour scorn on Holness's apology as just days ago on a morning program he told the host that Audley was being mild. As I watach him om TV I smiled at his attempt to be genuine but the camera lights were too bright his disingenuous effort could not be hidden. This is not a Mannatt Phelps and Phillips issue. No need for one cabinet member to try and cover for another. Shaw is unapologitic about his statement which comes with his arrogant territory. He is for given on the grounds of ignorance as he has no control of his utterances. His modus operandi is political one up manship and headline so he seeks to capitivate an apologitic audience who are as ignorant. Mr Shaw must TRY to become knowledgeable of the job he has to do and ask a teacher to provide his with guidance to correct his missteps. Time Mr. Shaw Remember from you signed the IMF letter of intent you started begging more time. We will see about that. Mr Shaw show me your productivity

Blue Stuart
5/9/2010

I wish people who are not teachers in the public sector wouldn't make comments about things they know nothing of. How can you put one (1) teacher in a class of 40-60 students of mid to low economic standard of living, outfit her with a chalk, a box of chalk, 2/4 markers and 3 sheets of cartridge paper and expect her to work the miracles that you expect? Most teachers go above and beyond the call of duty when creating the stimulating environment needed in her classroom, spending hundreds of dollars of their own money to ensure that their students at least have a chance at education....but is thia taken into consideration? No!!!....all we hear about is how teachers get 'nuff' holiday, 'nuff' money an dem nuh do nuh work..... Critics, Minister Shaw, put yourself in the shoes of public sector teachers and then 'wheel an come again!!!

JA Cynic
5/9/2010

Holness cannot apologise for remarks made by Shaw.That smacks of insincerity.Shaw must apologise for remarks made by himself if it is sincere, meaningful or acceptable.
What happens if Shaw now declares tthat he stands by his comments and has nothing to apologise for?
JA Cynic

God Bless
5/9/2010

Andrew I would go back to work just for you. You are such a sweetheart being so sensitive to the teachers feelings and all. I guess somebody had to try and play the kiss up role in this saga.

oface oface
5/9/2010

is mr shaw really wrong though ? in this country we have a tendency to cover things,
in any other industry pay is based on performance with these kind of results how can any one safely say the teachers are preforming , if they cannot be judged on results of there students what is it they should be judged on ?

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Holness apologises to teachers for Shaw's remarks