Black Immigrant Daily News

– Advertisement –

The Saint Lucia Teachers Union (SLTU) has expressed outrage at the circulation of a viral video recording in a secondary school classroom featuring a male student at the blackboard with a female teacher, accusing her of not teaching correctly.

“You see that – that wrong. One thirty – that wrong,” the student, protractor in hand at the blackboard, declares in the nine-second video.

The student then switches to Kweyol, uttering words to the effect that the teacher cannot even take a measurement, but wants to teach.

He then turns away from the blackboard, puts down the protractor, and slaps what seemed to be a piece of chalk down on a desk nearby while the teacher stands, practically motionless.

– Advertisement –

SLTU President Don Howell told reporters Friday that the union got wind of the video late the previous day, sought to determine its authenticity, and reach out to the teacher involved.

“In those things, we also have to be empathetic before we start circulating and spreading or even making statements. We have to be empathetic to the individuals involved,” Howell observed.

He explained that after speaking to and empathising with the teacher, the SLTU contacted the principal and provided advice regarding the next step for the school administration.

But the SLTU President asserted that the incident highlights the matter of student discipline.

In this regard, he declared that a teacher should not have to endure such disrespect in a classroom.

“The teacher is at work. Their conditions of work are supposed to be conducive to allow them to carry out their duties and it is not right that they must endure such levels of indiscipline, such levels of disrespect,” the SLTU President stated.

And he said the SLTU is aware that the Ministry of Education plans to deal with student loitering.

However, Howell disclosed that the union wants the Ministry of Education to make “firm pronouncements” on how it will address student discipline in school to support educators and the work they do.

He explained it was not a fight involving parents, teachers, and the education system.

“We want the entire community to come together and play their part to help us build this next generation of citizens,” Howell said.

He called on all stakeholders, including parents, to work with the schools, teachers, and principals to help deal with the problem of student discipline.

“We are also calling on the Ministry of Education to stand with teachers, to stand with educators in this country, and to make those firm pronouncements as to how they are going to deal with student discipline,” the SLTU President said.

In addition, he said it was unfortunate that the classroom incident occurred on the eve of teachers’ week which runs from October 2 to 9.

“Teachers have gone through a lot over the last few years and to continue going through what they are going through right now, teachers do not deserve that. Teachers are hardworking people and they deserve respect at all levels,” Howell noted.

“We cannot stand and allow our teachers to endure such disrespect,” he stated.

As a result, Howell indicated that the SLTU would continue exploring all its options.

Headline photo: Internet stock image

– Advertisement –

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

El secretario de Vivienda, William Rodríguez, firmó el viernes, un acuerdo con los alcaldes de seis municipios del sur de Puerto Rico que resultaron afectados tras los terremotos del 2019.

“Mediante este acuerdo, buscamos implementar eficazmente los fondos disponibles para la recuperación del sur, al integrar a los municipios más afectados en su administración y manejo. Esta es una oportunidad única y crucial para los propios municipios y las familias de ingresos bajos que aún necesitan vivir bajo un techo seguro”, sostuvo el secretario en comunicación escrita.

El acuerdo , que incluyó los municipios de Guánica, Guayanilla, Lajas, Peñuelas, Ponce y Yauco, dará paso al uso de $36.4 millones en fondos CDBG-DR para ayudar a largo plazo en la recuperación de los desastres.

El monto que financiará el nuevo programa para la Rehabilitación y Reconstrucción de Hogares por Sismos (SR2), surgió tras una asignación especial de fondos CDBG-DR definida por el Registro Federal 86 FR 569, que emitió el gobierno de los Estados Unidos el 6 de enero de 2021, con el fin de cubrir las necesidades de los hogares afectados por los sismos de 2019 y 2020. El Registro también identifica los municipios de Guánica, Yauco, Guayanilla y Ponce como las áreas más impactadas y afectadas (MID, por sus siglas en inglés).

Con la administración de un nuevo consorcio compuesto por los seis municipios bajo el nombre ConSur, el programa SR2 proveerá asistencia a dueños de hogares para reparar residencias con daños o reconstruir residencias sustancialmente afectadas en la misma localización.

El Departamento de la Vivienda será el administrador estatal de estos fondos y como requisito federal desarrolló un plan de acción enfocado en el uso de los $36,424,000 y el programa SR2, disponible en la pestaña “Plan de Acción” del portal www.cdbg-dr.pr.gov (http://www.cdbg-dr.pr.gov/).

Ahora, ConSur iniciará el proceso de ejecución del plan, comenzando con la identificación de un gerente de proyectos.

Por su parte, la subsecretaria de Recuperación de Desastres del Departamento de Vivienda, Maretzie Díaz, declaró que “después de Irma y María, nos hemos visto afectados por la actividad sísmica, la pandemia del covid-19 y recientemente el huracán Fiona. Lo que hemos aprendido de estos eventos y la capacidad que hemos adquirido mediante la ejecución de los programas de recuperación en curso, nos permitirá mantener una supervisión directa sobre el uso apropiado de los fondos, al tiempo en que ayudamos al consorcio a manejar el programa SR2”.

Durante la firma del acuerdo que se llevó a cabo en el Antiguo Casino en Ponce, estuvieron presentes el alcalde de Ponce, Luis Irizarry Pabón; alcalde de Guánica, Ismael Rodríguez Ramos; alcalde de Guayanilla, Raúl Rivera Rodríguez; alcalde de Lajas, Jayson Martínez Maldonado; alcalde de Yauco, Ángel Luis Torres; y el alcalde de Peñuelas Gregory Gonsález Souchet.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

Thirty-five fishers across the island have benefitted from a safety-at-sea training programme that was undertaken by the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) in partnership with the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU).

The programme stems from a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed earlier this year between the entities with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, to train local fishers in navigation and seamanship.

The sessions took place in Montego Bay, where nine fishers were trained; Black River, 11; and Kingston, where 15 fishers benefited from training.

At a graduation ceremony held at the CMU’s campus on Palisadoes Road in Kingston on Thursday (September 29), the participants were presented with life jackets and communication devices for use at sea.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Franklin Witter, commended the graduates and noted the importance of the training in ensuring their safety at sea.

He said the fisheries sector is crucial to the country achieving food security and in providing the protein needed in the diets of Jamaicans.

“As the ministry supports and promotes further growth in the fisheries sector, occupational safety and health is also of paramount importance to us,” he stated.

Principal Director of the Marine Branch at the NFA, Stephen Smikle, lamented that “too often we have reports of fishers losing their lives at sea… sometimes due to mistakes on the part of the (boat) captain and the fishers on board”.

He said the NFA, as the licensing authority for the fisheries sector, intends to eventually reach all boat captains with the training, to ensure that they have a “basic level of competence” before a licence is issued.

For his part, CMU President, Andrew Spencer, pointed out that the training adds “value and credence” to the fisheries industry, and helps to position the CMU as a driver of community development.

“We want to be a university that transforms communities in Jamaica, and one of the best ways to do that is to (uplift) our people in industries that enable them to put bread on their families’ table. Every time a fisher goes out and doesn’t come back, that’s a loss to a family,” said Spencer.

Under the MOU, a minimum of 35 fishers are targeted for safety-at-sea training annually over a five-year period through funding from the Agriculture Ministry’s Production Incentive Programme.

Another MOU has been signed with the University of the West Indies (UWI) to provide training in open-water scuba diving and dive certification at the institution’s Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory, starting in October.

NewsAmericasNow.com

Black Immigrant Daily News

ABWU Wins Bargaining Rights for Antigua Plumbing and Courts

Line Staff at Antigua Plumbing and Hardware Centre elected the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) as their sole bargaining agent on September 02, 2022.

Last week, the staff met for the first time with the Union to discuss matters surrounding their conditions of work.

The unit, which comprises over 40 employees will assist in drafting a proposal for improved conditions and benefits which will then be submitted to the Company’s management.

ABWU President and Senior Industrial Relations Officer, Kem Riley, will lead the negotiations with the Company.

Riley commended the workers for their display of solidarity and urged them to remain united as the Union engages in negotiations with the Company.

Meanwhile, the Managerial Employees at Unicomer Antigua & Barbuda Ltd. (Courts) elected the ABWU as their sole bargaining agent on September 07, 2022.

Industrial Relations Consultant, Harry Josiah, will lead the negotiations with a view to increase existing benefits.

The acquisition of this unit is part of the Union’s broader vision to expand its services to individuals employed at various levels of management.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP

NewsAmericasNow.com