BUT demands clarity amid Cabinet shake-up

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) has called on the Mia Mottley administration to clarify which of the two newly appointed education ministries will handle teachers’ day-to-day concerns, warning that ambiguity could hinder effective advocacy.

In a Cabinet reshuffle last Tuesday, Mottley appointed Senator Chad Blackman as minister of educational transformation and Sandra Husbands as minister of training and tertiary education. The reshuffle also saw Kay McConney reassigned from education to economic affairs and investment, while Kirk Humphrey’s portfolio was expanded to include crime prevention along with people empowerment and elder affairs. Additionally, Johnathan Reid was named minister of innovation, industry, science and technology.

The changes were sparked by Marsha Caddle’s departure as minister of innovation, industry, science and technology, and Corey Lane’s giving up the crime prevention portfolio. Dr Crystal Haynes resigned as a senator to make way for Reid’s appointment to the Senate.

Gilbert Carmichael, recently elected General Secretary of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), said on Monday the union needed clear direction on which ministry or minister it should approach when addressing members’ issues.

Carmichael noted that while the union has been informed that Senator Blackman will oversee primary, nursery, and secondary schools while Husbands will handle tertiary institutions, this division remains insufficiently defined.

“What we would want though is a bit more clarity,” Carmichael told Barbados TODAY. “Education is quite complex. You can have a situation where a primary school or primary school teachers are affected by a tertiary problem at a tertiary institution. We can easily use Erdiston Teachers’ Training College as an example. Let’s say that primary school teachers are asked to do a programme at Erdiston . . . and something goes wrong—at which point are we clear on which minister to report that challenge to?”

He continued: “Or is it a case where we report it to both [ministers] and then see who would respond to our challenges? So, it’s a case to get some clarity as to who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the ministry as it relates to the challenges that we might face from time to time.”

Despite these concerns, Carmichael expressed hope for a productive relationship with the new ministers but underscored that the union would not relent in its advocacy for teachers.

“We look forward to continuing to agitate for our teachers, to make sure that our teachers are comfortable and that the teaching and learning processes are not compromised,” he said. “All we are hoping for is that the name change does not deter or steer off the issues that present themselves because we will continue to fight for improved terms and conditions for teachers regardless of who the minister might be.”

In a separate interview with Barbados TODAY, the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) indicated its willingness to collaborate with Senater Blackman. BSTU President Mary Redman revealed plans to arrange a courtesy call with him to discuss pressing issues affecting teachers and students.

“I am in the process of writing a letter to send off to the ministry asking for a courtesy call on Minister Blackman,” Redman told Barbados TODAY. “We will know exactly what the proposal is in terms of the organisation of the ministry . . . and we will be able to discuss things of mutual interest and importance.”

Redman also reflected on Blackman’s recent remarks during his presentation at a Matthew Farley Lecture, highlighting his commitment to innovation and preparing young people for 21st-century challenges.

“As a union, we are excited to be working with him on this through his responsibility for education transformation,” she said. “Education transformation is something that the BSTU sees as vital, and we are committed to being an integral part of the process.”

Redman added that her union plans to meet with Minister Husbands at a later date. She noted that Husbands is no stranger to the BSTU, having collaborated with her during her tenure as minister of state in the ministry of education.

(EJ)