Caribbean Net News: Suriname to take legal action against striking teachers

By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: The government here says it will take legal actions against teachers who are on strike, which for the second consecutive week is disrupting high school education in Suriname. Talks between the Teachers Union (BvL) and the government over introduction of a controversial salary scheme for public servants and issues regarding educators collapsed last week.

Suriname Vice-President Ram Sardjoe

According to vice-president Ram Sardjoe the government has run out of options and will file a lawsuit against the union this week.

“We had several rounds with the union and every time they came with other demands and issues. For me, the government and the entire people it is now totally unclear what the BvL wants,” said Sardjoe who intervened during an earlier strike in January and struck a deal with the union.

“We want to communicate and we want to cooperate, but there are limits,” the vice president continued.

Sources indicate that lawyers for the government on Monday filed the documents with the courts to start summary proceedings against the union. No date has been set yet when the hearings will take place.

However, a defiant Wilgo Valies, president of the Teachers Union, maintained that the panel of ministers, which was commissioned to deal with the union, has proved to be incompetent to resolve the dispute. Meanwhile, the government is also considering implementing a ‘no work, no pay’ principle on the strikers.

“We are not impressed at all by the decision of the government to take legal and other actions. A court ruling is not the answer to the standing issues since unmotivated teachers won’t function as they should, if we are forced to return to classes,” said the union leader.

In 2004 the government has successfully taken legal steps against the teachers during strike actions. Valies said that the union will try to convince the government that the problems should be resolved through discussions rather than by pressure.

At a press conference the panel of ministers which holds talks with the union said that the government can’t wait any longer for the strike to end since students and parents will hold the government accountable for the negative impact.

According to Domestic Affairs Minister, Maurits Hassankhan, several of the issues regarding the teachers has been taken care off while minister of Trade and Industry, Clifford Marica, argue that the union is abusing the right to go on strike.