KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union Oswald Robinson is accusing the Unity Labour Party (ULP) government of using the COVID-19 vaccine mandate to “assassinate” teachers economically.
President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union Oswald Robinson“You have cut down people’s breadfruit tree, taken away people’s jobs. Teachers now are struggling to find monies to provide support to go to school and you’re talking about quality education?” Robinson said.
He was speaking on the union’s radio show on Xtreme FM, days after Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves said his government is willing to “rehire” unvaccinated teachers who were dismissed last November after failing to take a COVID-19 vaccine, as mandated by law.
Robinson said union members rejected the proposal at a meeting last Friday and said teachers should be reinstated with all benefits intact and be paid damages.
“What the government needs to do is repeal the law, make a public apology, let people get back their jobs with all their benefits,” he said.
“You have to pay the teachers for all the months they have been out… You want them to eat bread and butter?”
He also took issue with the Prime Minister’s announcement that unvaccinated teachers who are rehired will have to test as mandated by health professionals.
The government has said it will provide the first four tests for free and that the results of rapid antigen tests are acceptable.
Robinson said the union will not allow “anybody to come and sow any seeds of discord” as it addresses the issues related to the vaccine mandate.
“Let us remind ourselves of that. So, anybody who thinks they are going to try to destroy what we are doing and get off, that’s not going to happen. Stay focused, listen to your union and everything will work out,” he said.
“To the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, repeal the law and reinstate our teachers with all benefits. The masses out there are crying at you. You are losing fame, you are losing your charisma and this will show out in a bad light next around,” Robinson added.
