The Tribune

By KYLE WALKINE

Tribune Staff Reporter

kwalkine@tribunemedia.net

MORE than a dozen employees of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) yesterday renewed their call for the removal of their manager, Dr Iva Dahl, as they protested in front of the school. 

Andrew Stuart, the spokesperson for the protestors, said for nine years Dr Dahl has been firing and transferring employees without cause.

“It’s really hard for staff morale because people are performing, but then all of a sudden they’re being fired or transferred for personal reasons,” Mr Stuart said. “Now, it appears as though she is trying to get rid of all the permanent staff.”

“This is causing a lot of problems for our people. Some of our instructors are specialised in their field so there’s really nothing else in the Bahamas for them to do.”

Some of the disgruntled employees, instructors and other staff, said they received letters from the Ministry of Education detailing their transfers to other areas within the ministry.

The Tribune was given a copy of one of the letters, dated June 19, which read: “You are to report to Dr Willard Barr, acting director of educational planning ... on June 20 at 10am for an interview.”

Another letter instructed an employee to report to the ministry for “assignment”. 

Last month, many of the same employees protested outside the school. At the time, they claimed that there were being “victimised” and threatened to withdraw their services if Dr Dahl wasn’t removed. 

Yesterday, they claimed that some of the people who protested last month have been let go from BTVI. The group said they have managed to garner the support of Labour Minister, Shane Gibson, but have yet to hear from Education Minister Jerome Fitzgerald on the matter. 

“Just before elections, Mr Fitzgerald came here on this campus, walking around,” security guard Shirley McPhee said yesterday.

“But he forgot us now. He got his position and now he forgot who had him walking around on this campus. But the government is on contract too. This thing goes around like a circle. They fooled us one time, but they won’t fool us a second.”

The protestors said they will have to wait until next week to see what happens to their jobs and who will be able to return to BTVI for the new school year. 

Calls to Mr Gibson and Mr Fitzgerald went unanswered yesterday. When The Tribune tried to reach Dr Dahl, her secretary indicated that she could not speak to the media as it is the job of the chairman.  However, the chairman was unavailable.