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Witu Sends A Number Of Concerns To Pm And Minister Of Education

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson sent an e-mail earlier today to both the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and Minister of Education Rudolph Samuel covering a number of concerns affecting the education sector in St Read more

Witu Demands An Explanation From Doran

Philipsburg — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson met with mainly WITU members of Government subsidized school boards on Wednesday afternoon.

“The reality of their hardship caused by the non-payment of the vacation allowance was brought forward,” Johnson said.

Present in the meeting were union colleagues of the WISCU/PSU, NAPB, SMCU, ABVO and WIFOL in soalidarity.

Johnson before delving into the outcomes of the general membership meeting referenced his concerns about the remarks made by Deputy Prime Minister Egbert Doran.

“I believe the Honorable Minister Doran owes teaching, non-teaching staff and by extension the nation an explanation or an apology,” Johnson stated.

In the spirit of transparency, Minister Doran should explain the outcome of the meeting held with the Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion regarding the solution of the vacation allowance payment which he alluded to during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on August 10, 2022.

He added, “it seems to be obvious from listening to remarks made in the recent Council of Ministers Press Briefing that he not only misspoke but gave a false hope to educators.”

The WITU President expressed that, “in these challenging and financially difficult times you simply do not make such frivolous statements.”

However, if Minister Doran has a solution we are eager to hear such Read more

Witu Makes An Urgent Plea To Pm Jacobs Via Letter

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — On Tuesday, August 9th,2022 the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) submitted a letter addressed to the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs titled, Discrimination created among the teachers with non-payment of vacation allowance to subsidize school.

President of the WITU Stuart Johnson stated in his letter, As President of the WITU, I would like to bring the following to your attention requesting your intervention in this matter to bring equality, peace, and tranquility among the teaching fraternity in our beloved country.

As we stand at the beginning of the new school year 2022-2023, the board of the WITU is deeply concerned about the fact that to date the teaching and non-teaching staff employed at the various Government-subsidized schools boards with the exception of the Protestant Christian Schools (3%), have not received their vacation allowance as yet.

Johnson continued in his letter stating, In representing and looking after the best interest of all concerned, WITU held various meetings with the stakeholders to come to a consensus and solution as it pertains the vacation allowance that was paid since June 15th, 2022 to civil servants and employees of the public education.

Needless to say that this has created a sense of discrimination and lack of equality in the education field to teaching and non-teaching staff.

Even though WITU can empathize with the school boards, the fact is that one school board has paid 3% Read more

Witu Host Creative Exchange Event

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) hosted a creative exchange for its members on Friday, August 5th. President of the WITU Stuart Johnson said, “Assisting our members in any way possible will remain one of the primary goals for our members.” Members of the WITU had the opportunity to make educational posters for their classrooms or offices with resources made available by the WITU. The event took place at the WITU’s office from 12 pm until 6 pm with complimentary snacks and drinks. “Preparing classrooms for the start of each school year is a costly out-of-pocket expense many teachers face; this has not gone unnoticed by WITU Read more

Witu Disheartened By The Nonpayment Of The Vacation Allowance

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson minced no words by conveying, “I am profoundly saddened by the overall handling of the vacation allowance payment affecting subsidized school board employees.” He further expounded, “The precedence set by Government and the clear inequity it has caused is truly affecting the quality of education in our country,” Johnson said. On July 8, the WITU participated in a meeting with school boards and the Minister of Education, Drs Read more

Witu And School Boards Submit Letter To The Minister Of Education

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) and the various school boards of St. Maarten submitted their letter to the Minister of Education drs. Rudolph Samuel on Monday afternoon concerning paying the vacation allowance for subsidized school board employees.

Now more than ever is not the time to even consider making any budget cuts in Education, on the contrary investments need to be made. Imagine in these economically challenging times, you would think relief would be granted Read more

Witu Urges Minister Samuel To Reach Out To Regional Ministers Of Education

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — On Tuesday, April 26th, 2022 the President of the Windward Island Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson dispatched a letter to the Honorable Minister of Education drs. Rudolph Samuel.

Johnson in his letter stated, The Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) notes and with great disquiet that the timetable for the sitting of the CSEC and CAPE examinations has been released Read more

Witu Starts Petition For Payment Of Vacation Allowance 2022

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson said, today is the day we put the rights of teaching and non-teaching staff back as a priority in St. Maarten.

The WITU President outlined the contents of the petition that has nine points of motivation and all WITU members are being called to sign it in solidarity.

The nine points of motivation in the petition are:

That the Liquidity of the Government of St Read more

Witu Makes History At Cba

Philipsburg — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson recently met with the staff of the Charlotte Brookson Academy (CBA). Johnson was accompanied by WITU Treasurer Robert Rawlins and WITU Board Member Silvy Ravenberg.

“I’m proud of this historical moment by you joining WITU but I wish it was under more positive work conditions for you,,” Johnson stated Read more

Mlk Was Never A Priority Says Witu

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson is calling for the full disclosure of the Health Inspectorate report and all previous reports made for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School since the passage of Hurricane Irma.

“All reports especially the latest report must be made public regarding the ongoing situation at school as the school was never a priority,” says Johnson.

Truth be told, it was the WITU that alerted the Health Inspectorate about the situation at the school and did so formally via an e-mail correspondence, stated Johnson.

Johnson added, I must dispel the misconception as if I simply appeared on the campus as I was called by the staff members of WITU which I represent.”

Notable to mention for the record was that on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, an email correspondence was dispatched to the Health Inspectorate from the WITU.

If it wasnt for the attention being brought to this ongoing issue by the WITU the matter would have remained unresolved by the Ministry of ECYS Read more

Witu Union Reacts To Mp Emmanuel

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson reacted to Honorable Member of Parliament (MP) Christophe Emmanuel via a press release on Monday morning.

Johnson minced no words in saying, “MP Emmanuel needs to know which direction he should take his concerns and do not so at the expense of the unions.”

There is much concern about the selective payout by Government but it hasn’t gone unnoticed by WITU.

“As a responsible union, we are addressing all matters in a professional way by ensuring all due diligence takes place Read more

Witu Concerned About Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Primary School

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson submitted a letter to the Honorable Minister of Education drs. Rudolph Samuel on Friday, March 4th,2022 regarding the ongoing situation at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Primary School.

In the letter, Johnson outlined,on behalf of our members of the WITU and by extension our concern for all staff along with students I am sending you correspondence.

Below are a list of grievances as presented to me by several members of staff:

Physical Features of the school:

Mold can be seen in many classrooms and only cleaning it will not help the situation. The physical feature of the school is depressing, unwelcoming, and not conducive to student learning and teacher instruction. Classrooms and other rooms are leaking when it rains Read more

Witu Makes History In St. Kitts At Cut Conference

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson returned over the past weekend from attending the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) 40th biennial conference held in St. Kitts at the Marriott Resort.

Formed in August 1, 1935, the Caribbean Union of Teachers (C.U.T.) is a federation of Teacher Trade Unions in the Caribbean that aims to impart knowledge and experience, while promoting and supporting the work of teachers and education across the region Read more

Witu Calling All Members To General Membership Meeting

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten President of the Windward Island Teachers Union (WITU) Stuart Johnson is calling on all members of the WITU to attend an important General membership meeting.

Johnson in keeping his word will be hosting a virtual general membership meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, January 26th, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. via the plat Read more

Witu Deeply Concerned About State Of St. MaartenS Education

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU), Stuart Johnson has expressed deep concern about the current state of St. Maartens educational system and the quality of learning for students.

He said the country has over 1500 Covid-19 active cases and it seems ad hoc decisions are the order of the day. Johnson revealed that WITU has made two attempts via written correspondence to have a meeting with the Honorable Minister of Education drs Read more

Windward Islands Teachers Union Honors Claire Elshot-Aventurin

Philipsburg, Sint Maarten — The board of Windward Islands Teachers Union (WITU) honored its former President Claire Elshot-Aventurin in a small ceremony last week at it’s office in Madame Estate.

Elshot-Aventurin served as the WITU’s President for 27 years until a recent board election passed on that confidence to the new President Stuart Johnson.

During his speech WITU’s new President, Stuart Johnson expressed his profound gratitude to Elshot-Aventurin for the hard work, services and commitment she provided to the union for almost three decades.

It is with great honor we recognize you for your unwavering dedication to WITU for the past 27 and to unionism on St.Maarten,” the new WITU President Stuart Johnson remarked.

Johnson praised Elshot-Aventurin for her never ending effort in making it her duty to ensure that all the unions operations were done professionally and all the needs of teachers were met.

Johnson in the presence of the board presented Elshot-Aventurin a plaque which he read, “this plaque is awarded as a token of appreciation to thank you for your past 27 years dedication and service as President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union on St.Maarten.”

Johnson added, “I’ve got big shoes to fill but I have no doubt you will continue to be at my side as our advisor.”

Elshot-Aventurin besides the plaque received other tokens of appreciation from the board of WITU Read more