PM Browne Labels Teachers’ Union President a “Political Hack” Amid Strike Dispute
St John’s, Antigua – Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly criticised the president of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT), calling him a “political hack” and accusing the union’s leadership of aligning with the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) to destabilise the government.
Speaking on Pointe FM on Saturday, Mr Browne said he believes the teachers’ strike over unpaid allowances has been exploited for political purposes, with members of the union’s executive allegedly using the situation to fuel broader opposition efforts.
“Where I draw the line is with that union executive led by the guy Casroy — whatever his name is — he’s a political hack,” Mr Browne said.
The prime minister’s comments come as the government announced that all outstanding cheques related to the dispute had been disbursed, and appealed for teachers to return to classrooms on Monday. Despite this, Mr Browne said the union had failed to officially call off the strike, a move he described as “disproportionate.”
He reiterated that the government had no quarrel with teachers themselves.
“I want to make a fundamental point here — the executive has no quarrels with the teachers or the teachers’ union for that matter,” he said. “Everything they have asked for, we have given to them.”
However, Mr Browne warned that allowing politically motivated individuals to dominate union decisions posed a threat to the education system and to national stability.
“If we allow those individuals to exercise an outsized influence on the teachers’ union, they’re going to become destructive,” he said. “They’ll undermine the progress of our youth.”
Mr Browne also claimed that internal union votes were being driven by a vocal minority, with just over 200 members voting to continue industrial action out of more than 1,500 teachers.
The government maintains that it has met its financial obligations to educators and says the priority now is ensuring students, particularly those preparing for exams, do not suffer further disruption.
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Since that’s how you have labelled him for standing up for what is truly theirs i hope he uses his influence to rally his membership to flush you out of office.
Seems like anyone who stands up for something is politically driven.
That should make you really uneasy since every sector is politically against you.
You should be counting down your days in office.
I do not understand how you are claiming all seventeen seats in the next elections when you are admitting that everyone is politically against your government.
Smoke and mirrors Mr. PM…we see through your smoke and mirrors!
Mr PM you have to stay in Government for the next two terms to see the completion of prosperity for our Nation so much development taking place that would have that exponential affect on the cost of living and development of our people your brilliant economic vision of our country is bearing fruit and your restlessness to empower the small man is a dream that must become reality two more Boggie Alley projects is needed two in Grace Farm and another in Yorks this will set the stage for an housing empowerment that has never been seen in this country and the Caribbean when the detractors are having ambitious dreams to be the Government the people will see through them for their dishonesty so let’s continue to build and empower our people and so with you at the helm the small man shall become the real man as we continue to build our beautiful County
He is the only person in Antigua and Barbuda that knows everything about all others. The issue is, he does not know of his inner self.He is the only person. Who could call others by derogatory names and get away with it. He cannot be sued, for he is above the laws of the land.Plus his name is King Sue. Me a go Sue Eeeeee and Sheeeee.