The sister of Education Minister Curtis King, who was fired under his government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate is among teachers who have returned to the classroom.
Hundreds of public sector workers lost their jobs after failing to take a jab in 2021, as a law passed by Cabinet mandated.
The Teachers’ Union, Public Service Union and Police Welfare Association challenged the law in court and won.
However, the government appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal is yet to hand down its decision after hearing arguments in May 2024.
Even before the High Court ruled against the government on the matter, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves began urging the public sector workers to return to their jobs, saying that they would lose no benefits.
King told Parliament during the Budget Debate on Wednesday that “most” of the teachers have already returned to the classroom.
He said those who have not returned to their jobs are “those who have chosen not to, and they have not lost any benefit.
“So y’all flogging a dead horse,” he said in response to the opposition New Democratic Party, which has pledged to end the appeal and return the workers to their jobs.
King told Parliament that a teacher who did not take the vaccine and was at home got pregnant during that time.
“… she returned to school and the same week, she was given her maternity leave,” he said.
“You’re going to tell me that one is for everybody,” he said in anticipation of the response of the opposition.
“Fine. But hear the other part: she was also given her long leave,” King said.
“I’ve been saying this in this house all the time. You don’t have to accept what I say. Ask some of the teachers. You all know them,” he said.
King said East Kingstown MP, Fitz Bramble, an opposition lawmaker, “brought to the house the fact that my sister was one of those teachers who did not take the vaccine.
“And he said she was an excellent teacher, especially in sports, and look at how we are treating her. Well, she is back in the classroom. So, my honourable friend could go and ask her if she lost any benefit.
“So don’t flog that dead horse; don’t flog it. And, of course, we remain open to every teacher, up to today, who wants to come back to the class. I’ve been saying this all the time, and I have said, ‘Look, it doesn’t matter if the issue is before the court, come back.’ So that is why I’m saying that those who are still at home choose to stay at home,” King told Parliament.
ah da really eat ah food? he tummy really saying he eating food. ,,, which belly bigger,, massa or me??
What does he mean ‘ did not lose any benefits’ ? Were salaries paid retroactively? Were monies paid to compensate for lose of income during that period? Were they paid a grievance fee?