Trouble brewing at UTT?

THE EDITOR: It is really amazing how these people at University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) think we the workers and teachers of John Donaldson Technical Institute (JSDTI) and San Fernando Technical Institute (SFTI) are complete fools. On the contrary, when everything hits the fan, there are a lot of people in the Government going to be in a very embarrassing situation. I have been working as a teacher for over 18 years, and I received on December 8 a correspondence that was addressed to my principal but copied to me, informing my principal of vacancies at UTT in various disciplines. And guess what? We were to apply by December 20. Now I wonder what will happen if I don’t apply for any job at UTT, since I have a permanent pensionable position? Will they remove me from SFTI, give me severance or be locked out of SFTI as a senior member of UTT said in a meeting? We’ll just have to wait and see. But remember the fiasco with Regional Health Authority?

It’s sure to have a replay in this latest political blunder. It looks like the UTT figures they could bully teachers at these institutes into submitting, or rather frustrating them into a change of career. Well, while that may be so for the weaker ones, let them be warned that the fight they’re in for will pale in comparison to what the Regional Health Authority got. That’s not all. The ad looks like it was written to suit a high ranking member of SFTI. The Head of the Institute must have an Engineering Degree. And to make matters worse, they have eliminated the Business Department. Strange that this has happened. Because it probably eliminates the most qualified person for the post. In fact, in a recent staff meeting when a co-worker from the Business Department inquired of her future, she was told to pack her bags. Because UTT has no place for the Business Courses. The Business Department offers Executive Secretary, Computers, Accounting Technician, Business Management and Supervisory Management to name a few. I have been teaching for over 18 years and now I don’t have a job. Well, the last time I checked Trinidad was a democratic country, and thank God for that.

R GOBHARDHAN
Marabella