KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has expressed disappointment over what it says is the failure of the Heart Trust/NTA to begin negotiations regarding lecturers and instructors represented by the association for the April 2017 to March 2019 contract period.

In a release this afternoon, the JTA said having submitted its claim from December 2016 and had a clarification meeting in February 2017, it remains amazed by the delay in commencing negotiations.

The association was responding to a letter dated May 21 from the Heart Trust/NTA in which several factors were outlined as reasons the negotiations with the union are yet to begin.

Among the factors listed in the letter to JTA, which was copied to the media, Heart Trust said it has not been given permission by the Ministry of Finance to begin the negotiations.

It also noted that there is currently no board as the terms of the previous board ended on April 6 with no replacement.

Additionally, the Trust explained that it is also currently transitioning under the Office of the Prime Minister and as such it has to wait on approval from the OPM in relation to responding to the items of claim submitted by the JTA which, it said, initially amounted to one billion dollars.

However, the JTA called for the negotiations to begin as a matter of urgency.

“We strongly suggest that islandwide consultations be held with staff who are now restive,” said the