Teachers’ Centre to become reality

Speaking to Newsday, Durga, a member of the Nirmala Chinebas- Dindial-led Team TNT (The New TTUTA) slate, said the present leadership of the union, under president Devanand Sinanan, started to aggressively pursue the dream of the dream of the Teachers Centre when they assumed office in November 2013.

“Over that time, the association had to be very prudent in the management of its resources to make this a reality,” he said, adding that TTUTA was in “a much healthier financial position,” during the tenure of its present officers.

“At the end of April 2014, there was a noticeable decrease in deficit from the previous years 2012 and 2013 and over the next 24 months the association would have realised healthy surpluses,” he said.

“This has allowed TTUTA to receive favourable responses from all financial institutions who were very willing to engage in negotiations with TTUTA for financing construction of the Teachers’ College.” The proposed Teachers’ Centre, which is earmarked for lands previously owned by Caroni 1975 Limited at Carlsen Field, Couva, is expected to be equipped with an administrative/research centre, industrial trade school and dormitory building among other facilities.

In his role as treasurer, Durga claimed that at the end of July 2016, the first three months into the financial year, TTUTA realised a surplus of some $538,279.

“This is a major reason members should make a wise decision as to who they put to manage the affairs of the association,” he said of the upcoming election.

Excited about the prospect of seeing the start of construction on the long-awaited Centre, Durga is again hoping to capitalise on his strengths over the past three years to continue the work he has begun.

The former Northeastern College student said his academic background and union experience coupled with his leadership qualities and genuine desire to see TTUTA grow and prosper makes him the obvious choice for treasurer.

Durga, who holds post-graduate certificates in accounting, economics, marketing, organisational behaviour and project management, takes much credit for placing TTUTA on a much stronger financial footing, evidenced by mechanisms, which, he said, allowed for greater transparency and accountability.