Public school teachers are again restive, as some are yet to receive their salary from the government.
The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) has warned, that it cannot guarantee normality today (April 26).
In a statement, JTA president La Sonja Harrison noted the continued period of frustration being experienced by members, and described the situation, as a blatant disrespect to the nation’s educators.
She said, thousands of teachers are yet to receive their salaries, and that no communication has been sent to schools by the government, to explain the reason for the delay in payments.
Ms Harrison said, teachers have been left to conclude that they are being punished by the state.
Pointing to the delay in salary–payment for 2 successive months, and the lack of response to discrepancies identified last month, the JTA president questioned if the government plans to frustrate teachers, out of the classroom.
She said the state of affairs for teachers is questionable.
Ms Harrison called on teachers to stand together paid and unpaid, to register their displeasure, adding that the scant regard for educators cannot continue.
She said sums due to teachers small or great must be calculated accurately and paid in a timely manner, to ensure that the teachers‘ monthly obligations can be met.
Meantime, the opposition has chastised the government for not paying the salaries of some public school teachers, for the past 2 months.
Spokesman on finance Julian Robinson was reacting to reports that for a second month, several civil servants have not been paid.
His reaction also comes amid restiveness by the island’s public school teachers who have indicated, that they cannot guarantee normal operations today.
Mr Robinson described as total disregard and disrespect, the lack of communication from the government about the delay in salary payment.