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ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
UNION OF TEACHERS
(Founded 1926)
AN AFFILIATE OF:
The Caribbean Union of Teachers (C.U.T.)
Education International (E.I.)
Fraternal: Canadian Teachers Federation (C.T.F) Nova Scotia Teachers Union (N.S.T.U.)
P.O. Box 853
St. John’s, Antigua, W.I.
Tel: 462-3750
Email: [email protected]
Chief Officers:
President – Casroy Charles
General Secretary – Sharon Kelsick
Treasurer – Denise Gardiner
1st Vice President – Robyn Joseph-Nathaniel
2nd Vice President – Aubreyann Miller-Ralph
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA UNION OF TEACHERS
RELEASE NOTICE
To:
A&BUT Membership
Ministry of Education Officials
All Media Houses
From:
Mr. Casroy Charles
President – A&BUT
Mrs. Sharon Kelsick
General Secretary – A&BUT
Date:
May 8, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
The Executive of Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers vehemently condemns the latest tactics of the Ministry of Education and the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda as it relates to casting aspirations† against the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers and or our nation’s teachers.
Be informed, the Ministry and Education action of publishing the names of teachers who are to collect cheques was disingenuous and cowardly.
Further, the aforementioned action only serves to foster combative employment relations amongst the Ministry of Education and the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers. Moreover, said action also compromise previous attempts to foster harmonious employment relations.
The A&BUT has consistently extended grace to the Ministry of Education towards the maintenance of quality industrial relations.
The Executive has maintained open communication with the Permanent Secretary and her team throughout this process to ensure this matter is brought to a close in an effective and efficient manner.
Therefore, the publication of the list of uncollected cheque through the Ministry’s social media platform is not only irresponsible but poses a safety risk to every teacher listed therein.
Consequently, The A&BUT will not sit idly by while its members continue to be vilified by the very people who have consistently proven that they are incapable of adequately addressing the issues and challenges they have created.
The conversations surrounding the payment of these allowances did not begin last month or this year.
Therefore, the executive of A&BUT and its members have been more than reasonable with the time given to rectify these issues.
Moreover, the Minister of Education would have supported the aforementioned assertion in a press statement he made last month.
Further, it has been brought to our attention that there are numerous cheques to be collected that have expired or are about to expire.
Therefore, we strongly condemn the actions of the Ministry of Education and call on all relevant authorities to rectify this issue immediately.
Additionally, we strongly advise that the Ministry of Education desist from making such publications in the future regardless of their intent.
To the Cabinet and Antigua and Barbuda, our educators continue to work assiduously and have been instrumental in nation building. As such, every attempt to pacify this issue of demonizing the nation’s educators will be treated as an insult.
The Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers calls on all educators to maintain their resolve as we seek to bring this matter to a successful end.
We thank you for your continued support. Togetherness for Progress!
Respectfully yours
Casroy Charles
President
Sharon Kelsick
General Secretary
Administrative Secretary – Joan Parker
Headquarters: Teachers Place – Sir Sydney Walling Highway and Teachers’ Lane, Antigua
MOTTO: Togetherness for Progress
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Why didn’t the teachers collect their cheques??? They ranting and cussing and sitting in, BUT REFUSED TO COLLECT THEIR CHECKS!!! If they prefer to have a public spat, the ministry has the right to respond PUBLICLY too. Expose their lies and HYPOCRISY!!!!!
I can’t recall giving a gift to a teacher but if I was still in school I would give you an Apple.
Matthew think his bulb is brighter than anyone else but it seems to only shine on his female concubines. The government officials get paid well to do nothing but allegedly embezzle tax payers monies, so pay the teachers that are working hard especially deal with bad kids in schools today.
Chupz…. A&BUT come in like some real drama queens and divas. Surprised is a ‘man’ that is President and hav just bare complaining and nagging ova yonder. Give thanks sometimes nah jack???
Plenty public school teachers send dem kids private school, so all dem willynilly teacher strike nah affect dem pickney
THEY WERE ORDERED TO PUBLISH THE NAMES AND LIKE LITTLE PUPPETS THEY DO EXACTLY AS TOLD. THESE DEPARTMENT HEADS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESPECT AND FEAR…THEY NEED TO KNOW THE LIMITED POWER OF CABINET AND THE POLITICAL DIRECTORATE. ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA IS GOVERNED BY LAWS.
So wait……
The list of teachers who have uncollected cheques were published so that mean that other collected……
So how come some new and some didn’t know?
Come on teachers…do better!!
Why wasn’t the checks collected? Also, why ya’ll vex? You came publicly and spoke of your monies, but they publish names about you monies, now you vex. Stop it!
Y’all really don’t know the struggles of teachers. That list was published sent last night. So when would the teachers have collected the checks?
The last thing that the Ministry of Education needs is a contentious and an antagonistic relationship with its teachers. The Ministry need to issue an unreserved and open apology to the teachers and move on. You cannot be wrong and strong.
The last thing the teachers need is a contentious and an antagonistic relationship with their BOSS.
Now that a real issue has been brought into the public view you have a problem with it? Stop the ignorance. Go pick up the cheques that have been waiting for however long. The ministry had every right to publish that list considering that the teachers are complaining about money owed and painting the ministry in a bad light. How about you teach the children and prepare them for the future and stop finding every reason to strike ever so often. What is cowardly is holding our children at ransom during cxc and exam term. Do better.
I am confused. Minister Matthew has repeatedly stated that the schedule of.payments was approved and sent to Treasury. He has also stressed that his is not the Manager of the Treasury
Teachers are on strike claiming non-payment. The Ministry responds that the cheques are available. Had they not listed the names the Teachers Union would have called it a lie.
What do they really want?
I see a lot of senseless chatter from people whoxannot see issues beyond politics! Check the news items yesterday and see what the minister said about some of the checks and that they would have to be rewritten! Understand WHEN the listed was posted and When the teachers were notified! You people like to invest. Go investigate the FACYS! You are the very ones who wish that school would open 24/7/365 so that you could avoid your responsibilities! The ones that do not turn ip to PTA nor get materials for classes! The parents who I tune with teachers struggles do not complain! Politicians get paid on time.! The can afford to raise their bar above the cost of living! Teachers are struggling to meet their monthly budget! Give them what they deserve! They are not asking for anything else!