Guild calls for speedy end to lecturers’ dispute

UWI Guild president Glen Ramadharsingh appealed to all parties involved, to speedily resolve the impasse that caused the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) to take industrial action. Speaking at the Guild’s campus office, Ramadharsingh said that the Guild sympathises with the lecturers, their main concern was the welfare of the student body. Ramadharsingh said the Guild had “been observing with concern” the effect the industrial action has had on the students.

He said some students were unsure as to what was happening, however they were advised by the Guild to continue with independent study if lecturers continued to stay away from classes. The Guild’s International Affairs revealed some international students expressed concern to the Guild. They said considering the present situation, they might not be able to afford to stay at UWI and might have to transfer to other tertiary education institutions.

Although the students are the Guild’s priority, they asserted that UWI has some of the “best lecturers who could probably make more money at US and European universities. “However they choose to stay here and if we are to keep them here, they should be paid fair salaries.” A new proposal was expected to be forwarded to WIGUT by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education. However efforts to contact WIGUT President Vishnudath Singh and Ministry officials were unsuccessful.