Strong teacher presence among candidates out west
JAPSS president thinks other government workers should be given the same option
WESTERN BUREAU:
Unlike some of their colleagues who have left their local teaching jobs to pursue more lucrative options in overseas classrooms, many teachers are targetting local politics, especially at the local government level, as an avenue to boost their income.
In the county of Cornwall, which comprises the 62 local government divisions in Trelawny, St. James, Hanover, Westmoreland, and St. Elizabeth, several teachers and former teachers are among the candidates. The list includes three principals.
Linvern Wright, the president of Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS), has no issue with teachers serving as councillors, noting that it something that is allowed under the law.
“It is legal, regulations allow it, and once there are proper arrangements at the school, I have no issues with it,” noted Wright, who is the principal at William Knibb High School, in Trelawny. “I see nothing wrong with being involved in the political process, once you’re qualified.”
Ian Myles, who serves as a deputy mayor in the outgoing administration at the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation, has been employed as a teacher at Little London High School (also in Westmoreland) for over two decades, and sees serving as a councillor in the Little London division as an additional opportunity to serve the people in that area. “Serving as councillor is an extension of my service as a teacher since both positions are about serving the people, ”said Myles, who won the division on the People’s National Party (PNP) ticket in 2016, but has since switch parties and will representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in this same division this time around.
NO DOWNSIDE
It should be interesting to note that Garfield James, Myles’ principal at Little London High School, is also a councillor in Westmoreland, representing the Sheffield division. Like Myles, he also won on a PNP ticket in 2016 and has since switched his allegiance to the JLP for the upcoming elections. According to Myles, there is no downside to being a teacher and a councillor, once a person is disciplined, committed, and willing to put in the long hours, which he said he has been doing successful over the last seven to eight years.
“It does not take away from your engagement as a teacher, once you are organised and know how to properly balance your time, there is really no downside to it,” explained Myles. “The community knows me as a good teacher and a good councillor, that is why I am going to continue to get good results as a teacher and will win again as a councillor on February 26, albeit on the JLP’s team this time.”
“As teacher, I regularly have dip into my pocket to address the welfare of students, including giving them lunch money when there is a need. At the community level, as councillor, I ensure the people have good roads, good water supplies, among other things. As I said before, there is no downside to either position, it is all about serving and working hard to achieve good results.”
OFFICERS MUST RESIGN
In addition to the generous number of teachers, who will be seeking political office in next week’s elections, several former police officers are also listed among the candidate in the county of Cornwall. However, unlike the teachers, serving police officers must resign from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to qualify, a situation with which the William Knibb High School principal takes issue.
“As much as I am a teacher, I think there is a level of unfairness,” said Wright, regarding other government workers not having the leeway teachers are afforded as it relates to political representation .“I don’t think society understands, and there needs to be proper explanation of why it is that a teacher can be [involved in politics] and other people can’t be.”
“I think it ought to be that, if people are going to be involved politically, they get the chance to do it, whether it is teachers or whoever… as I understand local representation, it is about your representing people. If people are doing that sort of thing, then it shouldn’t be an issue, ”added Wright.
In the Martha Brae division in Trelawny, the people will end up with an ex-policeman as their councillor, regardless of which party they vote, as both candidates- are former members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.