Former SVGTU president takes up SVGTU industrial officer post

Former President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) Otto Sam has taken up the task of being the industrial officer in the SVGTU.

Speaking at a media conference last Tuesday, president of the SVGTU Oswald Robinson stated that Sam was chosen not only after a successful interview but based also on his commitment to teachers and the teaching profession.{{more}}

“I know that he is ready to go, and even before this post was advertised this brother was ready to serve, to volunteer and this tells you of his commitment, his loyalty to the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union and to the teaching profession,” Robinson stated.

He assured that he has full confidence in Sam’s abilities, and knows he will carry out his duties with due diligence.

The Union president noted that most of Sam’s duties will be research and field work.

“As a matter of fact, he already presented a draft of one of the tasks he has been assigned, so he is already on the ball. One of the focuses would be to develop a profile which would be comprehensive in nature of the entire membership of the teachers union.”

He added that Sam has been tasked with developing this profile as he would have more time to do a more thorough job, and would be able to communicate with more members.

“Otto Sam would be focusing in the next couple months on the northern branches; we have two of them there…and he will be going out to the schools interacting with the teachers and getting very vital information which will assist the Teachers’ Union in its long and short term plan.”

Additionally, he noted that Sam would be more or less a ‘watch dog’ over the SVGTU’s collective agreement with the Government, and would have to monitor its implementation.

“So this responsibility is very important, he has been doing that when he was president and even when he was off the job, the matters that he had in court were directly related to the collective agreement,” he said.

Sam will also be in charge of dealing with teacher grievances and training needs.

During brief remarks, Sam thanked God and expressed gratitude to the Teachers’ Union for the opportunity which he has offered.

“I also want to really give thanks to brother [Robinson] and his executive…and the whole membership of the Union… This opportunity to serve is something that I look forward to…

“I am excited to serve teachers and to continue to serve teachers and the education system on a whole. I am ready, I believe that the prospects are bright and I will endeavour to give of my best in terms of serving,” Sam added. (CM)