Bridgetown.
A commission of inquiry headed by retired Judge Frederick Waterman is being establish to resolved the dispute at Alexandra School between teachers and principal Jeff Broomes.
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told journalists yesterday that the Cabinet had decided a commission of inquirty was the best way to settle the long standing dispute.
“We think that Justice Waterman has the requisite skill. know how and the experience to advise the Governor General wisely on of this issue can be put on the path of solution, and how the general administration of education can be improved in terms of the relevance legislation in its present form, and other administrative challenges that rear their ugly heads”, Stuart said.
The impasse between Broomes and members of the teaching staff which to strike action by 30 teachers in January, has started a second wave of industrial action by members of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU) this week to press their demand thar Broomes be removed from the school.
The Prime Minister stated there are legal challenges in the BSTU demand:It would be a very dangerous precedent to set, if on industrial relations grounds alone, a Government were to just wantonly decide to accede to the request of any set of workers to separate a manager or supervisor from his employment because there are persons who are unable to work comfortably with him”, Stuart said.
President of the BSTU Mary Redman, last night said that the union had informed Broomes’ superiors of the infractions that further deteriorated the teaching and learning environment in the school but they remained unaddressed.
She said the BSTU remains committed to reviewing it position as soon as the situation changes.
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