Grenada gov’t confirms teachers have not been paid for months

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada government has confirmed that several teachers with temporary status have not received salaries for months while others with permanent appointments have not been paid for last month.

Public sector workers are paid under a bi-monthly payment system and Acting Prime Minister Andy Williams said “we are hopeful that the matter will be resolved by next week.

“We are doing our best, the staff in the Ministry of Education are doing the best to ensure that teachers are being paid. You have the staff in the Ministry of Finance doing their best to ensure that teachers will be paid.”

Under Grenada's public service systems, the finance ministry is responsible for processing payment.

However, the Public Service Commission, the Department of Public Administration and the Ministry of Education each has a role to play to ensure that payment to any public officers is in compliance with the existing protocols.

Williams did not provide a specific reason for the late payment, saying “it's a case where you have the Ministry of Education and the Public Service Commission working together.”

Williams told a news conference that once he became aware of the matters, he ensured that a meeting was urgently held with the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) with a view to resolving the issue.

GUT president, Jude Bartholomew, criticised the government's inability to pay teachers on time, expressing concern over the broader economic implications.

“Even if the contractual period ends, the information is already there, and we cannot understand the delay. The teachers cannot understand it; the nation cannot understand it,” said Bartholomew.

He spoke of the detrimental effect on teachers' morale and the country's economy.

“A teacher comes into the system for the new school year, motivated and ready to teach, but when they don't get paid, it frustrates the teacher and, ultimately, the economy.”

Following an emergency meeting with teachers on Tuesday, a decision was taken for them to begin industrial action by wearing red t-shirts and to take a few minutes during their lunch time on Friday to raise about the issue using placards.

Offering an apology for the late payment, Williams said that his government will work to ensure that this problem does not recur in the future.

“It is a case where we have to call all stakeholders involved to review the process,” he said.

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