This evening Sunday October 31st in a national broadcast Education Minister Dr. Hon. Natalio Wheatley sought to discredit the responsible and unapologetic reporting of 284 Media after public back lash.
The Minister referencing a recent article said, “In regard for my advocacy and support for teachers, let me correct some fake news from the 284 Media organization. It was reported in a recent article that the teachers would be docked a portion of their salary for not showing up to work. This is a blatant falsehood and I question the motives for seeking to mislead the public. According to section 92 and 93 of the Virgin Islands constitution order. The Governor acting in accordance with the Teaching Services Commission is responsible for all matters of discipline for teachers. I have instructed my permanent secretary to provide a full report of events of last week to the teaching services commission and I specifically ask that the ministry recommend that no teacher and I repeat, no teacher is penalized for the actions related to the sick out between Wednesday the 27th of October and Friday the 29th of October. However, I am requesting that the teachers return the table of dialogue so we can work together on rectifying these matters.”
284 Media has confirmed with multiple sources within the Ministry of Education that this has in fact always been the practice to dock pay without the proper requisite leave forms.
At no point did the article state that teachers will be penalized for striking or calling in sick, it stated that they will not be paid if they did not call in sick, or show up without reason, along with submitting the requisite leave forms.
284 News and the editor stand by the information that was reported and in addition to the already existing protocol by education officials to request the requisite leave forms for teachers during an absence.
Branding responsible reporting as fake news is not a constructive way to further the necessary public dialogue. Additionally, when the public disagrees with decisions or systems in place by the Government, that is also not a reason for them to retract and brandish agencies.
See previous article.
The article published by 284 Media stated, “TEACHERS WHO DIDN’T SHOW UP TO WORK AND DIDN’T CALL IN SICK DURING SILENT STRIKE WILL NOT BE PAID FOR THE DAY”
The article continued, “During the past few days many teachers across the Virgin Islands participated in a silent sick out, resulting in the closure of both Primary and Secondary schools.
On Wednesday October 27th more than 50% of the Elmore Stoutt Junior High School teachers called in sick. The following day Thursday October 28th, Senior School teachers of the same institution despite being online, also called in sick. Yesterday Friday October 29th, Primary School teachers joined in solidarity and support of their colleagues and also called in sick, forcing almost all Primary Schools in the territory to be closed.
Our newsroom has been reliably informed by senior education officials in the Ministry of Education that the Government of the Virgin Islands through its Human Resources Department within the Ministry of Education will not be paying those teachers who were absent on the day without notice or reason along with the submission of the requisite leave form.
Minister of Education Dr. Hon. Natalio Wheatley on Thursday evening engaged teachers in an online meeting to hear their concerns yet teachers do not seem satisfied and it is unclear if the sick out may continue into next week.”
