Disappointing turnout of teachers at Ecumenical Service

The annual Teachers’ Solidarity Week opened Sunday, with a dismal turnout of teachers at the Ecumenical Service at the Netball Centre at New Montrose.

The event saw a turnout of 18 persons, which included the preacher, Bishop Chesley Ferdinand and eight executive members of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU). Added to that, the service, which was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m., never got started until about 4:15 p.m.

This year’s Teachers’ Solidarity Week runs from November 6 to 14.{{more}}

The next event on the calendar is ‘Retirees Day,’ which takes place today, from 3:15 p.m. at the Union’s headquarters at McKies Hill and the Annual General Meeting at the Union’s headquarters on Wednesday, from 3:30 p.m.

On November 10, there will be a Reflection and Appreciation Day, followed by the Annual March and Rally on November 11. The march and rally leaves from the Peace Memorial Hall at 2 p.m.

A Karaoke night will be held at the Union’s headquarters at McKies Hill on Saturday, November 12 from 8:30 p.m. The week would then conclude with the CW Prescod Memorial Lecture at Frenches House on November 14 from 7 p.m.

The week of events is held annually to commemorate the events of Wednesday, November 14, 1975, when teachers’, students and other categories of workers were tear-gassed during a protest march.

Besides commemorating the event, the activities of Teachers’ Solidarity Week are usually geared primarily to sensitize, educate and mobilize the new generation of teachers about the importance of becoming involved in a labour organization.

The SVGTU has in excess of 1,200 members.(AS)