33rd Biennial Conference of the CUT

The 33rd Biennial Conference of the Caribbean Union of Teachers was recently held in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, under the theme Education for Social Justice and Sustainable Development. As is customary, the Women’s Conference was held on the first day with approximately 65 persons in attendance.

The keynote speaker at tat the opening ceremony of this women's conference was Ms. Verna St. Rose-Greaves. Among the persons bringing greetings were Mr. Byron Farquharson, Immediate Past President of the CUT; Ms. Allison Sargeant, First Vice President of T&TUTA; Ms. Monica Williams, Head of Gender Affairs in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs; Senator, the Honourable Joan Yuille- Williams, Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs. The delegates and guests were also treated to a superb performance of Shurlaine Hendrickson as she sang the calypso, Understanding.

The Conference passed three resolutions, which were taken to the business of the Conference.

A feature of the conference was the elections of officers to this committee. Seven women were elected to serve on the new committee for the ensuing biennium. They are Mrs. Judith Spencer-Jarrett (Jamaica Teachers' Association); Mrs. Vernest Mack (Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers); Mrs. Celia Nicholas (Dominica Association of Teachers); Ms. Joy Matthews (St. Vincent and the Grenadines Union of Teachers); Ms. Indra Ramsingh-Geoffroy (Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association); Mrs. Adeltis Bain-Stubbs (Bahamas Union of Teachers) and Ms. Lisa Trott (Bermuda Union of Teachers). The other two nominees were Examin Philbert of the St. Lucia Teachers’ Union and Jacqueline Butcher of the Guyana Teachers Union.

The conference also decided that if for some reason one of the elected member cannot serve, that position would e automatically filled by the other nominees by the number of votes received. Mrs. Virginia Albert, regional Coordinator, Education International remains an ex-officio member of the Committee

At its first meeting held during the conference, Mrs. Judith Spencer-Jarrett was appointed Chairman, Ms Joy Matthews, Vice Chairman and Mrs. Vernest Mack, Secretary. At this meeting also, each of the Committee members were assigned their portfolios. Some basic plans were made for the biennium including a workshop on Occupational Safety and Health and another on Boys Underachievement in the Caribbean.

The Committee looks forward to meeting and doing great things for members of the various units.