Jeffrey Lloyd
By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
THE filing of five trade disputes by the Bahamas Union of Teachers was a “premature” move, Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd said yesterday suggesting he did not expect this action when the government had been “more than accommodating” to the BUT in prior negotiations.
BUT President Belinda Wilson confirmed the disputes were filed several weeks ago and have already gone into the conciliation phase, with the third meeting of this kind to convene next Tuesday.
She added the union had every right to file the disputes if it felt meetings yielded no resolution.
Meanwhile, Mr Lloyd said the Ministry of Education has still not decided what will be the fate of 200 contract workers employed in his ministry but he said the $200m the country loses each year to corruption is correlated to a culture of “slackness” across government ministries. Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis recently released this staggering figure to a reporter on the sidelines of a conference in Lima, Peru.
“The ministry, myself personally and the president of the union (Belinda Wilson) and her executive team have been working from the day that we were elected and I was appointed on addressing these outstanding issues and I think it is patently unfair to that very good effort we were making in good faith for these filings to have occurred.”
The South Beach MP said nothing materially beneficial was achieved by the union filing the disputes with the Labour Board, adding it neither gave the union an advantage in the pace or settling of the negotiations.
“So what’s the point? Especially when we have been more than accommodating to engage in a harmonious, friendly (and) respectful way.
“So we think that’s very unfair and they are still a most essential stakeholder in the delivery of education in this country and we will continue to work with them. So let’s do it in a spirit of harmony and faith and all of the other attributes that a relationship of this nature calls for.”
Asked if this move by the BUT would affect upcoming negotiations on the union’s industrial agreement, Mr Lloyd said it would not.
“No, no. We can’t afford anything to be a hindrance. Listen, you know how crucial (and) vital teachers are to this process. All of us are here because of the investment made in our lives by teachers and so this ministry respects that.”
He also said: “So no, there’s not going to be an impediment to our negotiations with the union. We are going to sit down in good faith and we are going to lay the cards on the table and we are going to come to a resolution of our differences where they may be any, but we want to be partners. We want to be team members going forward for the benefit of our people, that’s what we are about.”
Regarding the 200 workers, Mr Lloyd said they will either be disciplined or fired if it is found they have not performed the duties they are paid to do.
“Ten per cent of our revenue so to speak is being lost every year to whatever you want to call it – corruption, slackness, waste, inefficiency and so on. We are in the process of putting in place the proper procurement process which even might be brought in by legislation so that everything is above board and there is accountability throughout the system - not just the politicians, the public sector and the private sector as well in that you are dealing with the people’s money, the taxpayers’ money. We must be judicious. We must be wise. We’ve got to be prudent in how we manage and spend that money and it’s only fair because I want my taxpayer dollars to go for the purpose for which it was intended.”
He also said: “The (200 workers) are going to be disciplined and are being disciplined and/or fired. We ain’t wasting no government money and this ministry is not going to participate in a culture of slackness and dishonesty. We just are not going to do it.
“The Bahamian people did not put us here to perpetuate the status quo. We are here to attack it, destroy it and to replace it with a society of accountability, responsibility, proficiency, efficiency and respect for one another.”
Comments
TheMadHatter 6 years, 6 months ago
Mr. Lloyd, May 2017 has been gone long time. I guess you think people are just going to sit around for 5 years and then put the PLP back in. No. The people now say 5 years is too long for foolishness.
Why don't you change the forced statistical curve which only thru mathematical manipulation brings about a D average for our students? Everyone in the field understands grading on a scale. You can fix that so it is a C with the simple stroke of a pen.
How can you sleep at night while forcing these grades upon our young people. If you don't understand it, ask one of your math teachers to explain "grading on a curve" to you sir.
This is disgusting and needs to stop. Disgusting ia the best word i can use in public.
DDK 6 years, 6 months ago
This to a man who says " We ain’t wasting no government money'! BOL!
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 6 months ago
Lloyd should never have been appointed Minister of Education and is just another classic example of Minnis's inability to exercise good judgement. Lloyd is proving to be even worse than Alfred Sears was when he was Minister of Ed, and that was really bad!
sheeprunner12 6 years, 6 months ago
What has Jeff Lloyd accomplished at the Ministry of Education since May 2017??????
Can he point to any changes in the outmoded curriculum/school schedule????
Can he point to any changes in the dysfunctional organization and size of public schools???
Can he point to any changes to the appointment, hiring, firing and promotion of teachers and principals???????? Where is the Teachers Service Commission?????
Can he point to any tangible quantitative changes to revamp exit exams, school quality standards and realistic diploma requirements???? Why is the ALL KNOWING Director so quiet on these matters????/
Can he point to any means to get rid of this two-tier elitist public/private school system that is designed to keep the majority in "mental slavery" ??????
Can he point to any changes in dealing with the "disruptive students" in the schools????
Can he point to any new policies that will be addressed in the BUT/BEMU new CBAs???? How can most teachers be well educated and well paid by Bahamian standards, but their students cannot read, pass BJC or graduate?????
All he has done is run his mouth about his Conferences, preschools and "ideal schooling"??? But mouth can say anything ......... These schools are mired in dysfunction and unproductivity.
licks2 6 years, 6 months ago
Sheep you are well "schooled" in the dysfunctions of the education system. . .the biggest problem in the current system are an "ALL KNOWING, NON-FUNCTIONAL AND INCOMPETENT DIRECTOR WHO IS INFLEXIBLE, RUDE AND NON-COMPLIANT WITH ANYTHING EXCEPT HIS OWN BLOATED SENSE OF IMPORTANCE" . . . and a minister who is boxed-in by an administration group placed there by a director who mastered the principle of friends, family and lover promotions!! This minister started to "clean house" when he arrived. . .however it seems that this government went back to "administration by friends, family and lovers". They are going around in their regular five years cycle of flaming. . .with an incompetent person who has not met minimum requirements to be in that position as director. . .
DDK 6 years, 6 months ago
Ten out of Ten! (If you count the final paragraph as two points!)
hrysippus 6 years, 6 months ago
Yeah, Sheeps, lets drag all those motivated and performing students down to to the government schools D triple minus level. The country would be so much better off, we need no well educated students who can actually read, do calculus, and critically evaluate. Also if we close all these schools where parents pay to have their children educated then all those children can enter the already overburdened government school system and cost the government millions of more dollars that it has not got. With this brilliant suggestion I think you must have been educated in the government school system and earned a D minus while being jealous of those privately educated children of the government ministers and church pastors who could afford to pay the fees.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 6 months ago
You speak as the entitled social elitist that you are .......... even worst if you are a black "bougee" Bahamian (we expect the whites to say this).
hrysippus 6 years, 6 months ago
Minister Jeffrey Lloyd expects respect, . . . . . . .. From that woman dem teachers did elect, . . . . . . .. Probably be better if he apply for loan, . . . . . . .... From the union money to fix his home, . . . .. ... Some union presidents just want money and fame, . . . . .... .. Their Negotiations are just a game, . . . . . . .. A way to see their name front page in the Daily, . . . . . .... As we dance to the tune they play so gaily, . . . . . .. What the really want best is a cabinet post, . . . . . . ... Under a PLP leader so they can earn the most, . . . . . .. Just look at union leaders who have gone on before, . . . . .. Some obscenely rich and some have even more, . . . . . . . So a little advise to the Honourable Member, . . . . . .. Don't try to deal fair with a political pretender. . . . . ...
Be Li-ttle Da-mage if they's go striking, Be Li-ttle Da-nger of educated anger.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 6 months ago
THIS IS THE REALITY RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN THE USA ....... And we think we have it all together???????? Why are we so stupid as to not even re-think the crap we call "a 21st century education system"???????? ........... But we mimic the USA so much that it's just pathetic.
A Florida school district has fired or transferred the entire teaching staff at a troubled elementary school. The Tampa Bay Times reports that Hernando County School District officials informed Moton Elementary School teachers during a faculty meeting last week. District spokeswoman Karen Jordan says tenured teachers will receive new assignments at other county schools for next school year, while newer teachers will have to reapply for other jobs if they want to stay with the district. Moton has received a D rating from the Florida Department of Education for the past two years, and student behavior problems have increased.
sealice 6 years, 6 months ago
can we file a dispute with the teachers union because of our perpetual "d" average?? or are these sorry ars socialist, standing around with their hands out, do nothings.... going to blame that on the students as well?
sheeprunner12 6 years, 6 months ago
PARENTS ARE THE ONES TO BLAME ........ TEACHERS MUST WORK WITH WHATEVER THE HOMES SEND THEM ...... AND PARENTS IN 2018 SEEM TO BE THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO GETTING STUDENTS TO PERFORM ........ TOO MANY CODDLING PARENTS WHO ARE QUICK TO DEFEND THEIR RUDE, ENTITLED, LAZY CHILDREN.
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