Show Proof – A&BUT president asks Ministry for evidence
Show Proof Payment
By Kisean Joseph
The Ministry of Education is claiming all outstanding payments owed to teachers have been satisfied, but is refusing to provide any evidence to support that position.
That accusation was levelled Thursday by the president of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers at the union’s 100th anniversary conference.
Casroy Charles told delegates the Ministry’s conduct amounts to a failure of good faith, saying teachers across the country continue to await multiple categories of outstanding entitlements while being expected to perform with full enthusiasm and commitment.
“Instead of correcting its continued failure, it has resorted to making bold assertions that all payments have been satisfied and continues to refuse to provide proof,” Charles said. “Yet our nation’s teachers are still expected to perform with enthusiasm and commitment in spite of being denied their rightful remuneration and the respect of good faith.”
Charles said the Ministry has yet to rid itself of the sub-par practices he believes are at the root of the problem, despite several administrative changes in recent years.
“Despite several administrative changes, the Ministry of Education has yet to rid itself of poor governance and deviant employment relations practices that prevent educators from being treated with dignity, respect, and the fairness we deserve,” he said.
Among the outstanding payments he cited were the 2018 to 2024 Technical Vocational Allowance, the Teacher Upgrade Retroactive Payment for 2020 to 2023, the Monthly Itinerant Teacher Allowance, retroactive payment for withheld COVID-19 salaries, and the Final Retroactive Payment Contribution for the period 2018 to 2023. He noted that a deadline of 30th April 2026 for the settlement of back pay had passed without resolution, and that teachers who did receive payments are disputing whether the amounts are accurate.
Addressing the Minister of Education, the Permanent Secretary, and the Director of Education directly, Charles called for the immediate settlement of all outstanding remuneration and the establishment of transparent systems for verifying payments, saying only then could trust be restored and the Ministry’s reputation strengthened.
The union president left no ambiguity about the consequences of continued inaction.
“The Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers will continue to hold the Ministry accountable and good conflict will arise whenever teachers are denied their full entitlements in a timely manner,” Charles said. “I repeat, good conflict will arise whenever teachers are denied their full entitlements in a timely manner.”
Charles did acknowledge areas of progress, including the promotion and upgrading of more than 500 teachers and the settlement of several retroactive payment categories. But he stressed that partial compliance with statutory obligations is not enough and cannot be accepted or tolerated.
The remarks were delivered before a packed conference hall as the union marked its centennial milestone under the theme Honouring Our Legacy, Strengthening Our Voice, Shaping Our Future.
