CEO’s infamous telephone call transfers Seven Region Three Education Officers

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION VERBALLY NOTIFIED SEVEN EDUCATION
OFFICERS of Essequibo Islands/West Demerara (Region Three) of their transfer to other
jurisdictions giving them some one week to take up their new posts.
The seven, which included six female officers, were blind-sided by the surprise individual
telephone call from Chief Education Officer (CEO), Dr Marcel Hutson, about the unilateral
decision blamed on the Education Minister.
“We got a call from the CEO who told each of us that Minister Priya Manickchand had requested
that we be removed,” one of the devastated officers recalled.
The affected learning officer said Hutson “informed us that he is merely executing the wishes of
the Minister who no longer wants us to remain in Region Three. When we asked him about an
official letter…he promised to (provide it) but to date nothing has been forthcoming,” the
affected officer said.
Some of the affected officers are of the view that their removal is to facilitate stocking the
Region Three Education Department with favoured party cronies.
Regional Education Officer (REdO), Ms. Annesta Douglas, one of the victims of Hudson’s
infamous telephone call, cast doubts on the purity of the church man’s motive, recalling being a
constant target of the part-time religious leader for a number of years.
“In 2019 APNU+AFC (the then A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance For Change
government) moved me to Region One/ (Barima/Waini). However, when the new Government
took office, Minister Manickchand placed her transfer as I had spoken to her personally
expressing my concerns especially considering that because of certain reasons moving would
have been very disadvantageous for me and my family. I have children who are attending school
and they cannot move now along with my husband. The Minister expressed empathy and assured
me that I would not be transferred and so I was told to remain,” Douglas explained.
As officers we “have families whose lives will be disrupted and it seems that no one cares as the
CEO has been on a mission to make the life of several education officers difficult and sadly it

seems as though the Minister believes in him so there are no expected actions that would be
taken against him,” she lamented.
The official admitted feeling deeply wounded because she was treated very unfairly by the
APNU+AFC while serving in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) because of her outspokenness, and
publicly supporting the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) coalition, which at the time,
was the main opposition party.
“Many persons knew of my unwavering support to the PPPC and the fact that I went through a
lot under the APNU+AFC government and now thinking that my battles are over and I can
finally work in peace, this letter has knocked the life out of me. I am too embarrassed to even
raise my head. How do I face the public considering that I supported the government
significantly?” the bewildered officer queried.
For now, Douglas is not prepared to move considering the extremely short notice given to make
all the necessary logistical preparations to relocate with their families before March 8.
The embattled Education Officers are relying on their industrial representative, the Guyana
Public Service Union (GPSU) to take up their cause.
Douglas said CEO Dr Hutson is a perennial griper who seems to have a lasting grouse with one
group of nationals – Afro-Guyanese – who traditionally support the Peoples National Congress
(PNC), the largest political party in the APNU+AFC coalition.
“Whatever the CEO related to the Minister, she believed as he was always complaining… about
this and about that and what. What the Minister doesn’t seem to know is that he (CEO)
complains about one set of people, one colour of people and the actions being taken evidently
will affect one race of people but this seems to be the way things are being done in Guyana,” she
noted.
Douglas said her husband was victimised because of her public support for the PPP/C and fired
by the APNU+AFC coalition administration.
With both administrations seemingly targeting her family, Douglas maintained that she will not
be a puppet of any of those regimes and plans to report to Central Ministry.

“My official appointment is a Regional Education Officer. As such, I will perform those duties,
not any unrelated duties, and I intend to make this clear to the CEO as his continued attacks on
me is once again paying off. I have left it (and him) in the hands of God,” she related.
“Region Three is where the President is from and I hope he sees what persons in key positions
are doing. He should know that ultimately the buck stops at him, and I will watch to see how he
responds to this,” an emotional Douglas said.