Opposition MP Anita Haynes-Alleyne is today expressing concern over the ongoing dispute between the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) and the University of the West Indies (UWI).
Haynes, who is the Shadow Minister of Education, says the apparent breakdown in wage talks, which can lead to potential disruptions to teaching schedules, demands immediate attention, and she is calling on the government to actively address the pressing issues raised by the university staff.
In a statement, she says the Opposition continues to advocate for improvement in the delivery of education at all levels and there is no denying the critical role of education in our nation’s development and, by extension, the urgent need for sustainable funding for educational institutions like the UWI.
She says this government has repeatedly shown that it does not care about fixing the issues plaguing our education sector, given that in successive budgets there have been significant cuts, including to Government’s subvention to the UWI as announced in June 2022.
Haynes-Alleyne said with the Parliament presently engaged in an examination of the 2024 National Budget, she reiterated that the Government must revise its line of action when it comes to the education sector.