UWI lecturers carry out protest threat

STUDENTS at the University of the West Indies (UWI) campus at St Augustine yesterday got a break from classes, as only a handful of lecturers turned out for duty on “black day.” The lecturers, members of the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT), kept their word and absented themselves in protest of the delay to settle negotiations for the period 2002 to 2005. UWI administration said only 25 percent of scheduled classes were held. Classes are however expected to return to normal today as WIGUT has asked its members to return to work. Yesterday, when Newsday visited the campus, hundreds of students were in the corridors liming, some were in the library and a handful were in classrooms studying.

Most students interviewed said their lecturers did not show up, while others said in one instance a lecturer turned up but the  majority of the students were absent. Asked what they planned to do with the “free time,” some students were content to relax and talk with friends, others planned to “deal with administrative matters,” and some went home. Students were also in support of the lecturers’ action, saying “they deserve a higher salary,” but in the same breath, concern was expressed about their classes. The students said there was no word from administration about make-up classes.

WIGUT president Vishnudat Singh told Newsday “there was a good show of support by members.” He said lecturers were, however, instructed to return to classes today. The group will hold a general meeting today to discuss additional action. Principal Dr Bhoe Tewarie, together with Senior Assistant Registrar, Hollis Nicholas, and Assets Manager, Keith Chin Pang, who is responsible for time tabling of classes, toured the campus during the lunch break. In a release, they said they observed that approximately 25 percent of the scheduled classes were held by lecturers, teaching assistants and demonstrators. The latter two are not members of WIGUT.

The release added that the number of courses delivered, varied from faculty to faculty. “On average there was 20 to 25 percent delivery of courses.” Dr Tewarie reportedly spoke to some students in the Faculties of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, who said some of their classes were held, while others reported absent lecturers or cancelled classes. Dr Tewarie is said to have also received concerns from students about the withholding of their examination results from last semester. The UWI administration has taken a decision not to impose penalties on students, but to accept all students for this semester. Negotiations for the new agreement broke down between the group and administration, when they refused to accept the 15 percent offered. The group is asking for 30 percent over the period.