Dear Editor,
According to Marcus Mosiah Garvey: "Education is the process by which man is prepared for their own particular civilisation and the advancement and glory of their own race." Jamaica seems to be treading on dangerous grounds with so many unemployed teachers who are finding it hard to survive in the "land of wood and water".
Frustration is the order of the day. Personally, I am perturbed by a statement issued by Education Minister Ronnie Thwaites in June 2014, that the Government will not be hiring new teachers. How could there be a wage freeze and no job creation at the same time? Are we trying to create a society of unemployed professional thieves or poverty-stricken professionals? We have bills to pay Minister Thwaites, such as NHT mortgages, loans at the credit union, and student loans. How can we pay these without a job? NHT is breathing down our necks to pay up or else, while the Government busily taking out what they can. Loans to be paid are accruing interest and penalties daily.
Frustration is the order of the day. Personally, I am perturbed by a statement issued by Education Minister Ronnie Thwaites in June 2014, that the Government will not be hiring new teachers. How could there be a wage freeze and no job creation at the same time? Are we trying to create a society of unemployed professional thieves or poverty-stricken professionals? We have bills to pay Minister Thwaites, such as NHT mortgages, loans at the credit union, and student loans. How can we pay these without a job? NHT is breathing down our necks to pay up or else, while the Government busily taking out what they can. Loans to be paid are accruing interest and penalties daily.
Do you or the Portia Simpson Miller-led Administration really care, Rev Thwaites? I am about to lose my house because I can't get a job. Furthermore it gets even more burdensome because I am unable to service my loan at the credit union. What do you want me to do, Mr Thwaites?
This Government has sacrificed education at the expense of borrowing from the International Monetary Fund. I am sure as hell bitter as other educators who spend our money to get a good education and unable to secure a job. Everything around us falling down like London Bridge. If we cannot get jobs I believe something should be put in place for us to secure our house with the NHT in the form of a waiver, ie no payment until we are gainfully employed. The waiver should also be in place for those of us who cannot service our loans at the credit union or Students' Loan Bureau.
I frankly believe the Government is more concerned about passing the IMF test rather than ensuring the advancement and glory of its people. Where are the jobs you promised us Mama P? Maybe you save them for the retired people who are brought back into the system while competent people are available for the job. This is so absurd! We are creating an elderly workforce and youthful unemployed professionals. It's really sad! Mama P, you claim to love the poor, why are we losing all that we have? Why are we not getting any job in order to survive? At least we deserve the basic necessities of life: food, clothing and shelter. If we are unemployed then we won't be able to afford these basic human needs. We need jobs, Minister Thwaites, and we need it with much urgency. We need to live too!
Stewarton District
Clarendon
educatorforlife@outlook.com
I'm about to lose my house, Mama P
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According to Marcus Mosiah Garvey: "Education is the process by which man is prepared for their own particular civilisation and the advancement and glory of their own race." Jamaica seems to be treading on dangerous grounds with so many unemployed teachers who are finding it hard to survive in the "land of wood and water".
Frustration is the order of the day. Personally, I am perturbed by a statement issued by Education Minister Ronnie Thwaites in June 2014, that the Government will not be hiring new teachers. How could there be a wage freeze and no job creation at the same time? Are we trying to create a society of unemployed professional thieves or poverty-stricken professionals? We have bills to pay Minister Thwaites, such as NHT mortgages, loans at the credit union, and student loans. How can we pay these without a job? NHT is breathing down our necks to pay up or else, while the Government busily taking out what they can. Loans to be paid are accruing interest and penalties daily.
Frustration is the order of the day. Personally, I am perturbed by a statement issued by Education Minister Ronnie Thwaites in June 2014, that the Government will not be hiring new teachers. How could there be a wage freeze and no job creation at the same time? Are we trying to create a society of unemployed professional thieves or poverty-stricken professionals? We have bills to pay Minister Thwaites, such as NHT mortgages, loans at the credit union, and student loans. How can we pay these without a job? NHT is breathing down our necks to pay up or else, while the Government busily taking out what they can. Loans to be paid are accruing interest and penalties daily.
Do you or the Portia Simpson Miller-led Administration really care, Rev Thwaites? I am about to lose my house because I can't get a job. Furthermore it gets even more burdensome because I am unable to service my loan at the credit union. What do you want me to do, Mr Thwaites?
This Government has sacrificed education at the expense of borrowing from the International Monetary Fund. I am sure as hell bitter as other educators who spend our money to get a good education and unable to secure a job. Everything around us falling down like London Bridge. If we cannot get jobs I believe something should be put in place for us to secure our house with the NHT in the form of a waiver, ie no payment until we are gainfully employed. The waiver should also be in place for those of us who cannot service our loans at the credit union or Students' Loan Bureau.
I frankly believe the Government is more concerned about passing the IMF test rather than ensuring the advancement and glory of its people. Where are the jobs you promised us Mama P? Maybe you save them for the retired people who are brought back into the system while competent people are available for the job. This is so absurd! We are creating an elderly workforce and youthful unemployed professionals. It's really sad! Mama P, you claim to love the poor, why are we losing all that we have? Why are we not getting any job in order to survive? At least we deserve the basic necessities of life: food, clothing and shelter. If we are unemployed then we won't be able to afford these basic human needs. We need jobs, Minister Thwaites, and we need it with much urgency. We need to live too!
Stewarton District
Clarendon
educatorforlife@outlook.com
I'm about to lose my house, Mama P
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