The West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT) has taken a decision to stand down from its month-long protest, at least for now.
This means that next month’s exams at the University of the West Indies’ St Augustine Campus will proceed as scheduled.
WIGUT president, Dr Indira Rampersad, revealed in a GML report that Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, had met with Finance Minister Colm Imbert on the matter and had received some positive feedback.
She said the union, which back in April rejected a two per cent remit, was only this week informed of the minister’s commitment to take the negotiations forward.
“We understand the principle met with the Minister of Finance, and we were informed that those talks were quite positive, so in light of that, WIGUT has been negotiating in good faith,” Rampersad said.
“We issued a communiqué to members to submit all outstanding examination papers by midnight tomorrow, Friday, November 24, 2023. So, we expect that the exams, which are scheduled to start on December 4th, 2023, will go through as normal without hitches and without any major challenges.”
Dr Rampersad added, “So, we look forward to fruitful negotiations.”
However, she pointed out that lecturers would withhold the uploading of students’ grades if the minister reneged on his promise.
WIGUT has been demanding a “reasonable” remit since March of this year.