It may be a discussion that came too late for former New Democratic Party (NDP) candidates to amend the Representation of the People’s Act (RPA) to allow for teachers and other categories of public servants to be granted leave to be a candidate in General Elections.
According to Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves while speaking on radio this morning, the matter was being addressed at the level of the Cabinet Sub-committee on Legislation, which he chaired.
“We have gone through the Representation of the People’s Amendment Bill which deals with having teachers and some categories of public servants to take leave for a particular period of time to run for election,” Gonsalves said.
Under the amendment, if the candidate loses, they can return to their position and if they are entitled to any benefits prior to becoming a candidate, then they do not lose their benefits.
He said that he was hoping that it would be brought to the next sitting of Parliament on July 18.
Kenroy Johnson, Elvis Daniel and Addison Thomas – all teachers for more than three decades – found themselves in the very predicament after contesting the 2010 General Elections as candidates for the NDP and
Citing the lack of vacancies, the three were never rehired after resigning their positions to contest the elections.
This even after a Collective Agreement was signed between the government and Teachers’ Union back in 2005 which allowed teachers to contest General Elections and then rehired if they lost.
Under Article 16 of the Agreement, a member of the Teachers’ Union of at least three years standing shall be granted leave of absence with no-pay for a period no more than 6 months and that the resumption of duty must be at the beginning of the school term.