KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Transport Works and Housing Karl Samuda has suggested debt forgiveness for the close to 300 delinquent teachers who cumulatively owe the Ministry of Education $410 million in bond payments.

Under the bonding arrangement, teachers are sent on paid study leave. The ministry, in order to ensure that they return to the system, bond them to a written agreement stating that they will return to the system, and should they not return, it is at liberty to recover the amounts paid to them during the study leave. Persons who return are expected to stay in the public school system for three years to work for the Government.

Speaking during the meeting of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament this morning Samuda in noting that the majority of the $410 million was interest said the sum owed was paltry.

“It’s chicken feed, these persons who have benefited the benefit is not lost to the country, this rush to extract from them. We should be looking at whether or not we should forgive the rest of this money,” he argued noting that these individuals pay taxes and contribute in other ways. According to Samuda, the entire programme should be reviewed.

His stance however was not favoured by the rest of the Committee.

“If you have an obligation you must fulfill, you are talking about chicken feed, it’s not chicken feed, there’s an obligation you must fulfill at all costs,” colleague Opposition Member of Parliament Everald Warmington countered.