MANCHESTER, Jamaica – Opposition Spokesman on Education Senator Damion Crawford has hit back at Jamaica Teachers’ Association president Dr Mark Smith over comments the latter made regarding the Jamaica Teaching Council bill.

Smith, at a church service in May Pen, Clarendon, on Sunday, accused both major political parties of having a stake in the JTC bill.

“The teachers of Jamaica will not accept what we consider a betrayal. Nevertheless, we continue our advocacy, a call for unity among our ranks. The truth is, there is only one group that benefits from a weakened JTA, and that is whichever party forms Government. We must never forget that. Both parties have their fingerprints on this bill, and so let us not be divided in our attempts to move forward,” said Smith.

However, Crawford said the Opposition should not be confused with the Government regarding the JTC bill.

“Everybody knows that the PNP is the education party, and when I was sitting there today, I don’t know if is the devil or is God, but comrade (Peter) Bunting reported to me that the JTA President said in an effort to gwan like they are fair, ‘they can’t trust none of the two parties.’

On what basis you go negotiate with Government and Government tell you a lie. How me get inna it? What can go so?” he asked while addressing the People’s National Party’s Knockpatrick divisional conference on Sunday night.

“… There are some people who try to sell themselves as non-aligned and in trying to sell themselves as non-aligned when dog bite dem, dem beat puss. When puss never deh nowhere at all,” added Crawford.

Crawford claimed that the Opposition has been lobbying on behalf of teachers.

“If there is anybody fighting for the teachers at this time, it is the Opposition. He (Smith) might not know, because he didn’t come to my speech. He came to the Minister’s speech, so if he wanted to lick both he should have attended both,” he said.

“And with all the fight weh me a fight to gwan like the truth don’t matter the man seh ‘he can trust none’. Well, the teachers know, because me a teacher too. I was the one who brought most of these things to light, so if you feel like you never wan lick labourite alone then no seh nutten, but it hurt me heart with the effort that I have placed to defend the teachers,” he added.

– Kasey Williams