The Tribune

By MORGAN ADDERLEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

madderley@tribunemedia.net

THE first day of school at Carlton Francis Primary School was marred by further tensions between the school’s principal and the 30 teachers who protested on the school’s grounds yesterday.

Vernon Rodgers, Bahamas Union of Teachers area vice-president for New Providence schools, told The Tribune the teachers - who two weeks ago signed a petition calling for the removal of the school’s principal - were initially not allowed on the school’s grounds to continue their protest.

He added they were “eventually” allowed on the property, where they sat underneath a tree and continued their protest until noon.

Education Minister Jeff Lloyd stressed how deeply disappointed he is by these actions, which are occurring as the country is facing the “catastrophic event” caused by Hurricane Dorian.

Mr Lloyd also said he is still awaiting a formal report regarding the teacher’s grievances.

In a video, which circulated on social media yesterday, a woman alleged that Carlton Francis principal, Olivia Daxon, was “refusing to let teachers in the gate to sign in”.

Mr Rodgers supported this statement yesterday.

“They weren’t allowed inside the gate,” he said. “About the same 30 teachers who signed the petition against her. She was handpicking who she wanted to come inside the gate.

“They were eventually on the school grounds but they (sat) underneath the tree,” he continued. He said this protest lasted until noon and added some parents joined in.

Mr Rodgers said there was “no reason” why the teachers should have been blocked from the premises.

“This is just the stupidity and the pettiness these teachers have (had) to deal with for the past two years, going on year three,” he said.

He added only new teachers taught yesterday, as they are discouraged from participating in union actions until they are “confirmed”.

“Tomorrow I will be at Carlton Francis,” Mr Rodgers said. “Our protest will continue until she’s gone. We are no longer working with the principal.

“They were not going to teach…Not unless the principal is removed, the teachers will no longer teach at that school.”

When asked if the union has any concerns as to how this action will affect the children, Mr Rodgers replied: “That’s the concern right there. If the ministry cares, the parents care, and the country cares, they will get rid of that principal.”

When asked about this matter, Mr Lloyd said: “I asked for a report as to what the concerns are. I’m advised that the issue is again surrounding the presence of the principal and that nothing concrete has been brought to my attention as to what their grievance is with the principal.

“I haven’t seen anything written…There’s a process. There’s a procedure. These industrial agreements are very clearly laid out, processes with regard to grievances.”

He also contextualised this situation within the larger national tragedy occurring in the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the monster Category 5 storm that devastated Abaco and Grand Bahama last week.

The first day of school was pushed back one week in aftermath of the hurricane.

“This is not a usual circumstance, situation, atmosphere in this country….This is a country that is reeling from a most catastrophic event in its history, which has visited utter despair upon our land. And we have, at the beginning of school, in already severely compromised mental atmosphere, this to be confronted (with).

“I cannot address more emphatically how disappointed I am. And I invite our people to exercise a greater sense of sensitivity and compassion for the environment in which we live.

“And this is after school has been pushed back, again, to give accommodation to this most unfortunate situation.”

He added that in New Providence from last Wednesday there have been opportunities for “anyone who may feel a sense of grief with regard to the potential opening of school” to submit these grievances.

“I’ve had several meetings today with our executives over a host of matters and not one single report about a situation of grief was brought to my attention,” Mr Lloyd said.