Why all this manoeuvering?

MERELY WEEKS AFTER HIS POSTING AS REGIONAL EDUCATION OFFICER TO
UPPER TAKUTU/UPPER ESSEQUIBO (REGION NINE) Devindra Persaud was
inexplicably moved to Essequibo Islands/West Demerara (Region Three) raising the bogie and
resurrecting ethnic insecurities among sector officials.
Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson had informed a number of Region Three education
officials of their transfers to serve the sector in other parts of the country, stirring outrage among
a number of officials in the heavily-agricultural Region, west of the capital.
REdO Annesta Douglas, was the most vocal of the affected officers.
“They (the Ministry of Education) wanted to get rid of a black man here in Region Three and
that is why Dr Hutson had called all of us individually informing is about the move. This is
racially motivated,” Douglas had complained in an earlier taped interview with
www.aroundtheregions.com
She admitted campaigning for the March 2020 polls for the Peoples Progressive Party Civic
(PPP/C) coalition while it was in opposition and expected better treatment from her government.
“I helped the PPP to campaign as I gave them significant support and assistance. I am
disappointed in the Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand as I am sure that she must have
known what the CEO is doing,” is detrimental to some officers and creating anguish among all.
Persaud’s swift transfer to the coast is interpreted by educators who contacted this media house,
as “a deliberate plot within the Ministry to advance officers who are seen as more favourable to
the ruling party”.
Persaud was transferred leaving Region Nine without a confirmed Regional Education Officer
(REdO) causing education officials there to complain of the “negative impact” on preparing their
charges for the regional Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) tests offered by the
Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and other examinations.

“It is really affecting the students and teachers as we cannot continue under this immense stress
because it’s taking an enormous toll on us,” some teachers told this news outfit.
This media house learned Friday that Kateri Spencer was recently appointed to act as REdO in
Region Nine. But her appointment has done little to quell mounting anxieties among educators in
the deep hinterland community.
“There are a lot of fears among teachers because many feel forgotten by the Education Ministry.
While we are certain that the acting REdO is doing their best, there are serious deficiencies
within the sector,” that must be addressed urgently with active backing from the hierarchy in the
Ministry teachers told this publication.
Meanwhile, Region Nine Vice Chairman, Bertie Xavier, wants a swift resolution to the REdO
appointment uncertainties swirling around his Region.
“There is no confirmed REdO as yet and the teachers are correct, the confirmed REdO was
transferred to Region Three, and, while I cannot say why, we at the RDC (Regional Democratic
Council) are hoping that this matter is addressed quickly, so that teachers and other education
officials can feel confident that they are moving ahead,” Xavier said.
The long-serving-educator-turned-politician sympathises with the Ministry and educators facing
many daunting challenges including the global pandemic and flooding which he reminded have
“far-reaching and wide,” consequences. Xavier plans to hold talks with Ministry of Education
officials about the challenges in confirming a REdO for Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo.
“The on-and-off opening and closing of the secondary schools is something that is very
disturbing and what is even more worrying, is that after receiving a confirmed REdO in
the Region that person is removed shortly after with someone acting now in the position.
This will not help the psychological ability of the officers and teachers, and I do agree that
it needs to be addressed ASAP,” the Regional Vice Chairman declared.
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