Recently, a male colleague posted a message in the work WhatsApp group about his penis. The headmaster, deputy headteachers (one male and one female) nor the female administrator did not inform this teacher that his message was inappropriate for the work group. I even called them out for ignoring the distasteful message and still there was no response. In fact, the headteacher (HM) posted a message below the distasteful text as if he didn’t notice. 

That got me pondering on the issues I have encountered as a teacher in the school environment. The teaching profession is often touted as being a noble profession and many teachers are seen as wise, intelligent beings who are respected and idolised by students and members of the community. Personally, I see teachers as individuals who have their personal lives, beliefs and lifestyles. They are flawed like other humans and entitled to their own individuality and personality; they are not nuns, priests or godly beings. While many teachers lead conservative, quiet lives there are others who are very active socially, outspoken etc. People are allowed to be themselves but there are certain principles that one should adhere to in a work environment regardless of personal beliefs and prejudices. 

He deflects and minimises a colleague’s concerns by posting about his penis. How is that even relevant?

During the last week of the term, I mentioned in the work group again, that I need copies of the documents in my file. It’s a work problem and I spoke to the headteacher several times about it face-to-face. There are guidelines governing this issue so I don’t know why the HM is not following these. Regardless, nobody voiced their opinion on the issue or offered advice. I believe that a work issue should be discussed firstly in the workplace/work group with colleagues rather than with non-involved persons. I wrote about this issue previously: https://lifeingy.com/on-being-gaslighted-and-victimised-by-the-ministry-of-education-guyana/. 

A male colleague in the group then posted a rather distasteful message targeted at me. I had no interaction with this teacher and my messages in the group were about work issues and not my personal life. His message below:  

Nobody commented on this. Then the following day the HM posted a totally unrelated message as if he hadn’t notice what’s above.

I called out the administrative staff who are senior to this teacher for not informing him that his message is inappropriate.

My issue was not about the right of the teacher to post in the group but the inappropriate content of it and I did state this.And there is more. When I called him out on the absurdity of his post, he posted a message about the ‘size’ of my vagina! While distasteful, many persons engage in this sort of behaviour. When they can’t win an argument or offer a fitting rebuttal they go to the gutter with their remarks and attack the private parts of women and their perceived lifestyles. While irrelevant to this post I must state that I never had any sort of dalliance with this teacher. In fact, I am his daughter’s teacher!

Implications: 

• By not informing a teacher who is his subordinate that his message is inappropriate even when called out on it, the HM ‘silently’ approves his conduct. 

• The teacher, H. Baljor tried to silence me and his behaviour towards me was highly offensive when I voiced my concerns on a work matter. By remaining silent, his seniors (HM & DHMs) are implying that he can behave the same way if other teachers and I voice our concerns in meetings and in the work group in the future. I am not allowed to speak. 

• Their inability to simply inform a teacher who is junior in rank that his comment was inappropriate shows blatant incompetence and the inability to manage and lead. If they can’t handle such a little issue what can they deal with and how are their decision-making skills? Not too long ago these teachers were sent to a leadership training course for an entire week. 

• There is gross partiality in the workplace and these persons display an inability to deal fairly and objectively with common issue. No one said anything and this is the prevailing behaviour at this school. There is indifference and persons in administrative positions simply ignore issues that are brought in front of them. Then when teachers go to social media or traditional media entities with their problems, they are condemned for publicising their work problems. However, nobody addresses the piss-poor leadership in the school and the inability of those with authority to address simple problems. 

The teaching profession

The vast majority of workers in the public-school system are women and most workers are Afro-Guyanese. Also, the majority of senior teachers and education officers are Afro-Guyanese. At my former workplace, I mainly experienced racism. An Afro-Guyanese woman headed that school and the education officers who I complained to were Afro-Guyanese; they did not assist me. I have documented evidence to support my allegations. Race relations and tensions between Afro and Indo-Guyanese are quite complicated. I’d have to write a separate post about my experiences. 

However, since I started working at Annandale Secondary School, it has been headed by male teachers and there are far more male teachers here than at my previous workplaces. Also, while racism has not affected me as much here, I have noted other issues and they are nothing new. The same issues are reflected in the wider Guyanese society. 

Sexism/misogyny in the workplace

Not the first time

During a meeting, the same teacher, H. Baljor became disruptive and behaved as if I was boring him and what I was saying was unimportant, when I spoke about issues in my department. It was staff meeting and teachers were given the opportunity to ask the HM questions and speak about whatever concerns they had. Looking back, I cannot recall the HM telling this teacher that he should respect my right to speak or saying anything about his behaviour. I had to point out to him that while his department had a laboratory, computers and other equipment my department didn’t even have a cupboard or textbooks (at the time).That didn’t move hime. He still did not respect the fact that I was his equal in the workplace and had the right to speak just like him. 

And it’s not just him.

Guyanese society is patriarchal; an entire book can be written on the subject. Growing up, most women in my neighbourhood were housewives and those who worked were either single women or single mothers but there were a few who defied the norm. Being a housewife is not easy. The work done by these women for their families is never-ending, strenuous and far more effort is required than in a work environment particularly an office setting. I am not dismissing the value of housework. My mother was a housewife, and all her sisters are except for one who moved to the USA and works in childcare. What usually happens is that when Indo-Guyanese women move to the USA and Canada particularly those that didn’t have careers here, they would seek jobs as babysitters, cooks, cleaners etc.

While more Indo-Guyanese women particularly from my generation are in the workplace certain perceptions and expectations on how these women are and should behave remain in the mindset of others. I have noted that most women who look like me are quiet and keep to themselves. I believe that some of the issues I have encountered has to do with the fact that I don’t fit the norm and am outspoken particularly through writing.

When I was sent to Annandale Secondary School, I was placed in the library to sit and given the  chair  on  the  left.  .

The chair was very uncomfortable especially the part for my back. I mentioned  tthe problem to the then HM, Mr Persaud but nothing was done. At the time, teachers were actually taking the furniture of colleagues without permission. From then to now, the school has improved tremendously to the point where there are excessive resources in terms of school furniture and materials. And the library has been completely renovated. All teachers have now been placed in different staffrooms in the compound. After writing publicly about the matter I was moved into a staffroom: stabroeknews.com/2023/02/09/opinion/letters/inadequate-space-and-furniture-for-teachers-at-annandale-secondary-school/.

Anyway, at the time I was hardly ever able to speak privately with that HM in his office. He always had a student (s), visitor or parents in his office and expected me to tell him about my concerns in front of them. That was the not the only problem with this though. He also had the tendency to make remarks that I found belittling. For instance, once he turned to a student and said that this teacher (me) barely had periods yet was receiving a full salary. And another time, during the covid period I asked him for permission to leave for the day because my allergies was bad (sneezing a lot) and all teachers left the staffroom and were standing in the corridor. They looked at me as if I had covid plus, I didn’t have any classes for the rest of the day (lower-school teachers were at home teaching online). A parent/visitor was present, and he was at his table. Before giving me permission after I explained what was happening, he said that he was allergic to work too! The visitor looked at me as he was embarrassed for me. Also, the HM ignored the fact that I was recently sent to the school by others, Covid had just started (2020) and he was in charge of the school and assigning periods to teachers.

A male colleague told me that was his normal behaviour and he experienced similar treatment but complained to the GTU which led to officers visiting the school so I shouldn’t feel as if I was singled out. However, if your in charge of a workplace that sort of attitude towards subordinates only foster resentment and conflict. Since, I wasn’t able to have a normal conversation with the HM I resorted to posting my concerns in the work group. Having work groups was a new phenonmenon that arose as a direct result of covid. 

Well, instead of informing me that I should see him to discuss my problems or responding to my messages in the group I was ignored and even blocked. Plus, teachers including female teachers started bullying and mocking me about my uncomfortable chair (I posted about this). No sisterhood among Guyanese women (my experience). Instead of looking at my messages for the content and merit, they were mocking me. Many teachers behave just like the students they teach.

And during the time that my HoD was there, he never held a meeting with us that I am aware of nor did he form a group with the teachers in his department. Once I contacted him after asking a colleague for his number about a work matter in our department and felt as if I was bothering him. During that time I was teaching online from home. A new Spanish teacher was sent to the school, I never met this man and before normal classes resumed he had already resigned from the job. However, while he was employed he was given two of my classes in late October of that term and he contacted me via WhatsApp to request the google password for my classes that I created on my own.

The HM nor HoD hadn’t informed me that there was a new teacher in the department and that he was assigned two of my classes. Plus, the HM constantly kept assigning and reassigning me to different classes after the term commenced without informing me beforehand. After I expressed my frustration in the teachers’ group I was removed. This is how they were dealing with simple issues in the school. Total lack of communication and proper leadership and management. And when one speaks out one is accused of being a troublemaker and mentally deranged! Below, my messages about my work problems and the response of the HM.

  Additionally, when I wrote in the group about my uncomfortable chair it literally became a joke for colleagues. After a while, I was added to the group once more. They started mocking me about it instead of evaluating my concern on its merit. It was like being a high-school student again and facing childish drama. And instead of addressing my concern the HM ignored it. A female teacher, Shabiki Liverpool literally blocked me from messaging in the group although my message had nothing to do with her. Then the HM thanked her for doing so. And these same persons would do courses about transformational, empathetic and democratic leadership but don’t put into practice anything that they learnt. 

To reinforce my point, a message was forwarded to the group from either a colleague or education officer advising me to formally take my concerns to the HM instead of posting it in the group. I thought that was a good idea and hence gave the HM a letter highlighting my concerns. Copies were not sent to anyone else. It was a little internal issue and what I expected was for the HM to discuss the matter with me. Instead, he never approached me but an education officer, Ms Fazia Baksh (I didn’t know her identity at the time) arrived at the school and interrogated me about my letter to the HM in his office! I wrote about what happened here: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2022/01/16/opinion/letters/im-not-allowed-to-give-my-opinion-suggestion-about-my-secondary-schools-mundane-issues/ During this meeting, colleagues were asked for their opinion about me. The HM even said that there was no place for me at the school and told me to leave the compound. I remained home for three days then he said that the REdO wanted to see me. When I got to the dept, the REdO was not in office however, the HM was there and he told me to return to the school after chasing me out! 

The point is that often, issues leave the confines of the workplace because those who manage the work environment are greatly influenced by their personal bias and beliefs; have poor communication and decision-making skills and employ an autocratic style of leadership. Maybe they feel that because they are the head, they know best and to consider the suggestions and concerns of others would lower their standing. 

Is it lack of tact or gender bias/sexism?

People would have their own labels for what I’ve described. Is sensitivity weakness? Are they unconsciously doing it or is it with the intent to belittle and hurt the person emotionally?

For instance, while having a normal conversation with a colleague (R.R.) when I just started at the school, he said that Annandale Secondary School was babysitting me for the MOE. I stopped the conversation immediately. And I find that during the most casual conversations about neutral topics this male teacher would just make sarcastic comments. Another time, I mentioned that I need to follow proper procedures with something because I am unlucky then he said in this mocking tone that I am the luckiest teacher he knows. It’s hard to put into words, tone and body language but what was implied is that I am sort of a ‘bad teacher’ and he’s surprised that I’m still on the job. Am I too sensitive? Probably, but when having a normal conversation about work in the workplace is sarcasm and insults really needed and conducive to productive communication and interpersonal work relationships?

Like that time in a meeting when it was suggested that the DHM and I do not get along and colleagues looked at me for an explanation. I do not know the DHM outside of work, never had any sort of argument/confrontation with him and while our interactions are professional, we do not engage in any sort of conversation with each other unless necessary. Basically, that’s how I am with most of my colleagues, I am sort of introverted. However, I explained that the DHM told me that he taught me when I was a student there. I can’t remember this but when I asked him what sort of student I was, he said that I had psychiatric problems! Insensitive comment or unconsciously done? I didn’t say anything to him but I wrote about being bullied when I was a student: https://lifeingy.com/my-experience-with-bullying/

The point of relating this, is that although I disclosed how I was bullied as a student and people assumed that I tried to commit suicide by drinking kerosene the only comment was from the HM. He said with a smirk that he hopes I don’t do that again! Like am I being too sensitive or are these normal comments? Regardless, I am not a confrontational person, in fact I hardly speak but I would write about how I feel. The way I am has a lot to do with my childhood but I’ll need to write another long post for that.

I can’t relate all the insensitive comments people have made in the workplace; I’ll never be finished with this post if I try but you get the drift…like that time the former HM said that it’s a good thing that I didn’t get to complete medical school or else I’d kill the patients! I find that many teachers, both males and females would say things that lack tact.

Mental Health is used as a weapon to silence others 

Also, I’ve noted persons using mental health as a weapon to belittle others. I don’t understand why there is such a stigma attached to mental health in Guyana though. Wellbeing encompasses both physical and mental health. Health is holistic. Perhaps it’s the lack of empathy. However, only mental health professionals can diagnose and treat mental conditions but in Guyana, many persons without any sort of medical training would accuse others of having mental health problems as a tool to humiliate them and invalidate their opinions and concerns.  

Many persons have done this to me. And in the messages posted by H. Baljor he mentions ‘insanity benefits’. I have noticed that in the workplace that I am presently stationed at, when some teachers want to silence me, cannot deal with an issue, debate/offer a fitting rebuttal to a point raised or argument they allude to my mental health as if they are medical doctors who trained in psychiatry and I am their patient whom they diagnosed with mental health disorders. And it’s not just me; it’s a society wide problem. When people regardless of occupation want to humiliate/belittle someone they accuse or infer that the person has mental health problems.  

When I was given the opportunity to view my file, I noted a document from the former HM. Apparently after the visit by Ms Baksh he was asked or did on his own a document about me. It was basically his opinion about me. However, in closing he stated that I have mental health problems and the department of education should urgently assist me. Not surprisingly, he never gave me a copy or showed it to me. Basically, he couldn’t address my mundane work concerns and in an effort to hide his incompetence in this area of management he ‘diagnosed’ me as suffering from mental health problems. Typical. 

In effect, mental health is used as a tool to belittle others, to cover incompetence and for those who can’t win an argument/debate especially against a woman. 

Silence, bullying and lack of critical thinking 

I would just touch on these here because each topic is going to be too lengthy if I really delve into them. 

So, I could post about 20 different work issues, and the administrative staff would just not respond and later they would post something unrelated. I could even post about having a mental breakdown due to work issues and most definitely I would be ignored. I believe that work matters should be discussed in the workplace/work group because that is where it can be addressed and solved not with one’s friend, neighbour or a stranger. Isn’t addressing work issues from employees part of management and leadership in the work environment?  

And while the norm is silence when issues are highlighted, the response is often bullying particularly mocking one’s concern. For instance, I noted that in meetings the suggestions of male colleagues are often discussed and considered in a professional manner while female teachers particularly me, aren’t afforded the same courtesy. One time I mentioned this either in the group or at a meeting and I used the term ‘sexist’. Of course, what I stated was not discussed or considered based on merit, but some teachers particularly female ones started using the word ‘sexist’ whenever I was around. They’d say things like ‘Sir, you are being sexist.’ in an exaggerated manner. It’s all so childish, and it was the same with the chair story. Instead of looking at my concern as something that could be true or not and respecting my right to express how I felt, they became hung up on the words used. Plus, they didn’t even realise that sexism is something that is relevant to them due to their gender. 

Also, I’d write something on my Facebook page that is really about me and not them, yet someone would prowl my page for things to mock me with it in the staffroom! For instance, I wrote about ‘vagina shame’ and how women are treated because of this organ. Instead of looking at the substance of my argument or just ignoring it since it had nothing to do with them, they decided to mock me. Yes, I work with teenagers in adult bodies. 

Now whether you like someone or not or whether you are friends or not does it really matter in the work environment? The workplace is a professional setting. I don’t need to be friends with someone to respect their rights and to consider what they say. For example, if someone complains about a broken desk or uncomfortable chair, I can understand how that person may feel. I don’t need to be in the same situation to empathise. Instead of laughing at the person or joking about it with colleagues I would simply suggest a solution, offer advice or keep my mouth closed. Why is it so hard for people to respect the individuality of others and realise that they have their own way of seeing the world and their own concerns.  

Furthermore, another thing that is sorely lacking is critical thinking and there are so many examples. It’s like people cannot make decisions on their own or consider suggestions that they find to be different. For example, during the covid period when I tried to set up Google classrooms with my students, I found that many of them did not know what an email address is and how to set up one. I had to spend a lot of time guiding them and still some weren’t getting through. Now IT was not my subject and to spend so much time on tech issues was taxing and reducing my class time.

I explained this problem in the group and suggested that the IT teachers show the students how to set up email addresses and use applications such as google classroom effectively since it was their area. I was ignored and my suggestion was not considered. Covid happened; it wasn’t planned so although showing the students how to set up email addresses may not have been a topic on the scheme for the term it could have still been taught given the need! They didn’t need the MoE to direct them to do this. 

Another time, the HM wanted to us to go to the school to mark worksheets that were dropped off by the students. No problem with this, however, the worksheets that were given to the students had all the answers printed at the back! So a child could basically not do any work but just write the answers already given and score 100%. Does this make sense? Apparently, a printing error occurred, and this was at the height of Covid. The leadership team couldn’t use critical thinking to realise that it made no sense to mark those papers.  

And they even said that teachers teaching different subjects should go to the school and all sit in the IT room to teach the children from different classes online because the MoE said so! They couldn’t evaluate that this made no sense. At the time only the IT lab had internet access and how can you have over 20 teachers sitting in one room at the same time teaching different subjects? 

There is the overall lack of critical thinking and the inability/unwillingness to discuss anything although each workplace would have their individual challenges. It’s either the ministry said this or they don’t know or someone has to tell them what to do and if that doesn’t happen then it’s total silence. Critical thinking cannot be applied. For instance, the president spoke about making Spanish compulsory in Grade 7-9. Now some schools would have sufficient subject specialist to make this a reality but if your school doesn’t have the required staff can you still teach it? Common sense would tell you that you need teachers in order to implement this. Not all schools are equal in terms of staff and resources. Then they timetabled a ‘ghost’ teacher who never reported for work! How can you timetable someone who never reported for one day of work? Common sense is apparently not so common and it’s the same for critical thinking. 

These are some of the experiences I’ve had at only one workplace. What is highlighted is the lack of management and leaderships skills, empathy and communication. People allow their personal beliefs to influence their conduct in the work environment. There is the overall lack of respect for the individuality of others and their right to express their concerns and opinions on work matters. Then when little work issues reach the public domain, they are most offended and feel personally attacked yet are unwilling to address the same issues internally. What a paradox! 

The post Sexism and silence in the work environment appeared first on Life in Guyana.

Am I hoping for too much from them though since it was their own education officers who are responsible for the present state of affairs? No amount of degrees, management and leadership programmes that many of them boast about having completed can triumph over blatant prejudice and incompetence so maybe, I am hoping for too much from them. 

Why this post 

I’ve had to go over this incident to numerous persons with no resolution in sight, no sort of evidence being given to me and no feedback from anyone. I am truly fed up and frustrated. I feel as if they (MoE personnel) are trying to distort the facts and wear me down so that I’d start believing that I am wrong.  

I also believe that they are trying to frustrate me to the point where I am so mentally exhausted that I give up and accept the gaslighting and unfair treatment. So, I am writing about this incident because I don’t want to repeat it over and over again. Those who are interested in knowing my side of the story can read about it here. 

Writing 

I started writing publicly in the newspapers when I became affected by neighbourhood issues which none of the relevant authorities helped me with such as garbage burning (https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2015/11/30/i-am-begging-for-some-authority-to-save-my-health/). And I continued highlighting the problem and other matters with the passage of time including workplace issues. 

Writing has helped to highlight issues affecting me, give my opinion on a range of topics and is sort of therapeutic. 

On being victimised by education officials 

I’ve had to write about several workplace issues and it’s not like I make it my duty to look for problems to write about for the fun of it. I was directly affected, spoke about the matter with the headteacher and other colleagues and the resolution of the issues highlighted led to overall improvements in the workplace. For instance, in 2024, I publicly appealed for Spanish textbooks for the school (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/04/24/opinion/letters/annandale-secondary-school-needs-spanish-textbooks/). I was aware that the Book Distribution Unit had the required texts and after speaking about the matter several times with my superiors and not getting them, I decided to publicly appeal and the same week the BDU sent what was requested.  

Before, teachers who taught the subject had to spend almost half of the allocated time (1 hr & 10 mins per week per class) writing on the blackboard. I had to form WhatsApp groups with the students particularly for assignments and long dialogues which would have consumed most of the period. Dictating was impossible since 99% of the students had no prior knowledge of the language.  

However, having WhatsApp groups with them solely for schoolwork came with its own issues. For example, a student sent a pornographic image to me and once a parent/relative even sent me a video of himself masturbating. While the use of technological applications such as Google classroom and WhatsApp groups were necessary during the Covid period, with the resumption of face-to-face classes I recognised the need to use textbooks for my area. 

During the term when ‘the incident’ occurred I wrote publicly about two issues. The first was about the involvement of a Ministry of Education (MoE) worker when her relative disrespected me in the classroom (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/09/18/this-moe-employee-encouraged-disrespectful-behaviour-from-a-student-and-his-parent-at-annandale-secondary-school/).  

And the second matter was about the timetabling of a teacher who never reported for duty and was placed in absentia in my area. Because he never reported to his timetabled classes, the students were left unsupervised, disturbed nearby classes and teachers complained to me. Despite voicing my concerns and suggesting that the teacher be removed from the timetable until he reports for duty, this was not done. Eventually, I wrote about it and the next day what I suggested was implemented (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/10/08/putting-the-cart-before-the-horse-on-the-curriculum-at-annandale-secondary-school/). 

Then the education officer assigned to this school, Mr Loren Park who never assisted me when I was at Ann’s Grove Secondary School and even encouraged the HM there, Cindy Crandon to racially discriminate against me (https://lifeingy.com/the-ministry-of-education-guyana-condoned-discrimination-by-failing-to-act-fairly-and-decisively/), spoke to me about my public writings in the HM’s office. He said that whenever I write about school issues he is required to do a report about it for his superiors and this is interfering with his schedule.

Shortly after, persons started to call the school (so I was told by the HM) with complaints about me. These persons did not provide their names or give specific details. I told the headteacher that the complaints cannot be treated as valid if they are from anonymous persons and cannot be verified. 

The incident 

Then within a week, a parent came to the school when a ‘Math Intervention Initiative’ with the then Minister of Education, Ms Manickchand was occurring in the building.  He accused me of raising his daughter’s anxiety and threatened to complain to the Minister about me. He was wearing a mask and claimed that he was recording me during the interaction. He also claimed that his daughter has medical problems which I should know about. I was never informed of her medical issues and my position on this matter remains the same, I did nothing wrong. 

I have never been given access to the medical records of students, am not a special needs educator, never received special needs training and the school is not a special needs school. I explained to the parent that the child was simply told to put her finger to her lips. She kept walking around the class and talking during an assessment. At the end of the class while speaking to the students, I noticed that she left her seat so I called her. She came and stood next to me but proceeded to ‘defend’ herself for walking around the class. I told my students several times not to interrupt me while I am speaking to them but to ask questions or make comments after. I touched her elbow with my fingers (she had her arms bent) to slightly move her arm and indicated that she should put her finger to her lips. She complied and I continued speaking to the class for a few minutes more then I left. My interaction with the class was entirely normal and telling students to put their fingers to their lips for a few minutes is not a harsh form of discipline.

The next day, during a meeting with teachers and education officers, Mr Loren Park accused me of assaulting the child. When I tried to speak, I was accused of insubordination by another education officer, Mr Colwyn Delph. It should be noted that most if not all education officers were classroom teachers not management and administrative specialists but they should know the basics which include providing evidence to substantiate any accusation and allowing the accused to respond!

At 2:45 pm, I left the meeting. We were never given prior notification about this meeting, at 2:45 pm I have the right to leave the workplace and why should I stay in a meeting where I was being humiliated and not allowed to respond to allegations levelled against me? While at the door, an officer even asked me why I was leaving and I stated that I was not being respected here. He said nothing.

Due to this new development regarding a classroom interaction which I felt was completely normal, I saw the need to state what happened with the child in a letter addressed to the Headteacher, Mr Shakoor. He nor the substantive DHM were not present when the parent came to the school.

I was also prompted to compose the letter above to the HM because after the Math Intervention meeting with the education officers and us, a task sheet was posted in our WhatsApp group by the HM. By the way, the Math Intervention meeting was supposed to be about the poor mathematics performance of the students and how this can be improved. Although I am not a mathematics teacher, many of us were invited to this meeting which turned out to be a dressing-down session and nothing much about how students’ performance can be improved. I wrote about this here: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/12/25/education-officers-should-visit-schools-to-not-only-berate-but-to-improve/

The education officers, although not present at the meeting between the parent and me, came up with their own version of what happened to justify their actions. The only person who accused me of assault was their colleague; Loren Park. Furthermore, I was never confrontational with the parent who had a ‘Covid’ mask on for the entire meeting. And although he stated that he was recording me and threatened to complain to the minister, I simply told him that I did not give him permission to record me and that he was free to complain to whomever. I felt then and still do now, that I did nothing wrong.  

My side 

The welfare officer who was chosen to prepare the report as stated on the task sheet never contacted me. Furthermore, there was a blatant conflict of interest. A relative of the same officer attended the school and during a lesson earlier in the term, he was quite disrespectful to me. I wrote about the matter publicly after a confrontational episode with another relative of the child in the HM’s office. I felt unsupported and forced to accept disrespect from both the child and his relative (KN article). 

Also, as stated on the task sheet, the Regional Education Officer, Ms Keane Adams was supposed to hold an inquiry into the allegation on 20th November 2024, I was never invited to be a part of this nor was I asked to submit a statement/report. I don’t know if the scheduled inquiry occurred. In an effort to get my side out, I wrote about the matter in the Stabroek Newspapers: https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/11/15/opinion/letters/my-letters-to-the-media-have-contributed-to-improvements-in-annandale-secondary-school-for-which-i-am-now-a-target/. Still, there was no response from anyone and I did not receive guidance from the HM, DHM or other senior teachers on what to do or how to interact with the involved child. And there was no feedback on the matter; whether it was still being investigated or not.

Then in January 2025, I received a letter from the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of Annandale Secondary School. I replied to the letter and sent copies to everyone the chairperson had sent her copies to. However, I included the Minister of Education, Chief Education Officer and GTU. I pointed out certain inaccuracies in her letter including the fact that the headteacher nor my colleagues accused me of insubordination during the Math Intervention meeting. It was Mr Colwyn Delph, an education officer when I tried to respond to the accusation levelled by Loren Park. And I was never shown any evidence/documentation or statement ‘documented’ or otherwise regarding the matter by the relevant education officers nor was I told of exactly what I’d been accused of. For instance, was it alleged that I hit the child, slap her or what?

This is my response to the Chairperson of the Board.

I did not receive a response from Ms Findlay-Williams nor from the other parties I sent copies to. Therefore, when I was notified of a hearing with the Board of Governors of the school in mid February, I was hesitant and responded to the invitation.

There was no response to this either but on the scheduled date members of the board arrived and subsequently, I was informed that a member of the GTU was in the meeting. I decided to join since I felt that I might be treated a bit fairly. The Board consisted of the chairperson, headteacher, GTU representative, a former teacher and other members. Notably, Mr Loren Park, the education officer who accused me of assault and treated me deplorably for years at my previous workplace was also a member of the board! I was not told the names of the other persons and at a later date when I asked the HM for the names of the members he couldn’t tell me.

The meeting started off badly. I was under the impression that it was going to be about the assault allegation as stated in the chairperson’s letter to me. However, she begun with an entirely new set of allegations against me which she was reading from a paper. I informed everyone that I did not receive a copy of this document with the new allegations and yet the Chairperson continued reading. To date, I have not received a copy of this and during the meeting I tried to write what she was saying but she was going too fast. I can only recall being accused of racism and not allowing students to go to the bathroom. Later when I was allowed to view my file it became apparent where these allegations were coming from.

A teacher, W.G. who is on good terms with Loren Park made these allegations to the chairperson without giving me a copy of her complaint and she did not follow correct procedures nor behaved professionally. The allegations stemmed from an incident that occurred in the same class that the student who was allegedly assaulted is in. After I was accused of assaulting the student and the education officers from the DoE Region #4 stated that they were going to investigate the matter I was supposed to be sent on Administrative Leave or another teacher be assigned to the class. This is the usual procedure for accusations of such a serious nature. Furthermore, in the manual for discipline of teachers it states that for the offences I have been accused of the penalty is interdiction from duty. However, this was not done and I received no guidance from education officers nor the HM/DHM on how to interact with the student. I was basically forced to be in the same space with a student who I was accused of assaulting while an ‘investigation’ was ongoing!

My position then and now is the same: I did nothing wrong. So when I returned to the class right after the allegation was made I felt uneasy about interacting with the child. I didn’t know if she was a special needs child and I never received guidance nor training in this area. She was distracted throughout my class and left before dismissal without asking for permission. Then in January 2025, during my next session with her class, I noted the same behaviour but felt unsure of how to reprimand her and at the same time I did not want her classmates to feel that I was giving her special treatment and that they can engage in the same sort of behaviour. So I asked the teacher in the class next to mine to allow her to remain there for my period and do that subject. The teacher agreed but when I returned to my class, the students particularly the girl’s friends became disruptive. All of them suddenly wanted to go to the bathroom and while I was allowing them to go one at a time they became restless, kept constantly interrupting my lesson and were chatting among themselves. I believe they wanted to know where their classmate was and they misconstrued my action as racism. They were unaware of the issue between the student and me. Anyone who lives in Guyana would be aware that the society is racially polarised and there are tensions especially between Indo and Afro Guyanese.

Apparently, after my class they complained to their class teacher and the level head, W.G. And instead of following correct procedures by discussing the matter with me first, these teachers complained directly to the headteacher and Ms W.G. to the Board. Ms W.G. was in the meeting when Loren Park accused me of assaulting the child so she was aware of the issue as well as the headteacher. Although no evidence was provided to substantiate the allegation that my action was racially motivated and that I was not allowing the students to go to the bathroom, the headteacher allowed these false allegations to meet the level of the Board and the chairperson, Ms Findlay-Williams entertained them. Also, none of the teachers were in my classroom when the incident occurred nor is there a camera there. It was nothing more than blatant bias, incompetence and unprofessionalism.

Anyway, back to what happened in the meeting. After repeatedly requesting a copy of the document the chairperson was reading from and being denied, a member of the board asked me what I believed I was there for. I told them about the letter from the chairperson titled ‘Recommendation for disciplinary action’ charging me with child abuse, assault and insubordination. It seemed as if they hadn’t seen this since I was asked to read my copy. Then I explained to them what occurred during the Math Intervention meeting in November 2024.

At one point I mentioned that the meeting turned out to be more of a dressing down that an attempt to find ways of improving the performance of the students. The chairperson saw this comment as an attack on the initiative and begun speaking about the good works of her government. The chairperson is the Press Secretary to the President of Guyana & Director of Press and Publicity – Office of the President (as stated on her Facebook page). The purpose of the meeting became obscure and she told me to leave. I have not received any feedback from anyone. I do not know what decisions they made.

However, it is important to note that during the meeting I pointed out Loren Park as the person who accused me of assaulting the child and mentioned that I did not receive a copy of the report compiled by the DoE Region #4 nor copies of whatever evidence they had and I was not included in the investigation. One person on the Board who apparently works at the Ministry of Legal Affairs (I was not told his name) said that I should be given copies of the report and the documented evidence. To date, this has not been done. Furthermore, during the meeting some board members were perusing my personal file. I mentioned that I had never seen the contents. They said that the HM should give me access to it and he agreed.

I wrote about what occurred in the meeting.

The aftermath

Only some of my letters on the matter I’ve uploaded; this post would be too lengthy if I uploaded everything and wrote about every incident related to it. Nevertheless, I have not received any sort of correspondence or verbal feedback from the Board, MoE, headteacher or education officers. However, in January I expressed my frustration over the lack of resolution publicly, but this did not elicit a response: (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2026/01/24/opinion/letters/i-implore-the-chief-education-officer-to-meet-and-resolve-known-outstanding-issues-that-are-taking-a-toll-on-my-mental-well-being/)

Then in February a team which comprised of V. Jaikishun, R. Barnes and other officers from the MoE visited the school. I was told that the purpose of the visit was to check records however, they asked me about the incident with the child and her father. While I once again explained what happened, I recommended that they examine the documents on the matter.

Do I enjoy broadcasting my workplace issues in the public domain?

Absolutely not! The incident occurred since November 2024; it is now April 2026. Why can’t the relevant authorities address and resolve this simple matter? If correct procedures were not followed and there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations then admit, apologise and close it. If I was wrong, show me the evidence. I am not going to deny responsibility for my actions.

Why I keep harping on about the same matter?

Some people feel that I become stuck on one thing or the other and should move on and just forget about being wrongfully accused. However, there are wider implications if I just forget. I could be wrongfully accused of something similar in the workplace in the near future if the matter is not properly addressed. I believe that there was unprofessionalism and prejudice. Additionally, correct procedures were not followed in the first place which led to this simple school issue becoming such a huge problem. If this is not addressed then those who behaved unprofessionally and unethically will be empowered to continue treating me and others who they have power and authority over, in a similar manner.

My personal file

The headteacher has a file for each teacher in the school. At the meeting with the Board of Governors, I was told that the headteacher should give me access to it. When I given access in February 2025, I was taken aback. My file contained documents with allegations against me that I was never shown or given copies of, thereby denying me my right to respond. And many of these were from anonymous persons. For instance, some ‘students’ from a Grade 8 class were apparently asked to write notes about me which were then placed in the file without my knowledge. This stemmed from a minor incident which occurred in their class and the request for notes from the children criticising me by either the headteacher or educational officers was very unprofessional, unethical, a smear campaign and ‘vengeful’.  A boy mocked me during the lesson and I complained to the HM about his behaviour which disrupted my class. Instead of a simple apology from him, his relative who works/worked at the MoE got involved. I wrote about the matter after: https://kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/09/18/this-moe-employee-encouraged-disrespectful-behaviour-from-a-student-and-his-parent-at-annandale-secondary-school/

In the file I also saw documents on other matters which I was never given copies of. I requested copies of all these documents from the headteacher since February 2025; to date he is yet to act upon my request. He said that he’d scanned everything and sent them to the chairperson who was going to give me copies but this has not happened. I even formally requested the documents in June 2025, and many times during our face-to-face interactions and in the teachers’ group yet I am either ignored in the group or given flimsy excuses in person. Treating me in this manner is insulting, disrespectful and very unprofessional. Either I am given copies of these documents since I have the right to respond or they are discarded from my file if they cannot be substantiated.

It is important that my concerns regarding my file be addressed. It seems as if the personal files of teachers are being used as weapons to smear them professionally and hamper their growth in the field. Usually when education officers visit schools they look at these files and the headteacher’s Log Book. Once an officer informed me the former HM (ag) had made a log entry about me. I was not shown this when it was made. Eventually when I did see it, it really was an act of spite. The HM (ag) came to the staffroom and loudly said at the door that my receipts from the cash grant given to me were not ‘balancing’; other teachers were in the room. I showed the HM(ag) using my phone’s calculator and the receipts that the sum given was accounted for (sometimes store receipts would have a sub total and then a total that includes taxes). He probably felt embarrassed but instead of admitting that he was wrong he said that he still couldn’t see the figures balancing so I told him that he needs to learn how to use a calculator. What else was I supposed to tell him? He then proceeded to rant loudly at the door about me being disrespectful and rude to him. And he wrote this only, leaving out the part about falsely accusing me and not being able to do addition correctly.

As I mentioned there are wider implications for public servants. President Irfaan Ali has mandated that the personal files of public servants be digitised which would allow easier access to them by the relevant authorities (https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/news/guyana-president-ali-sets-deadlines-for-full-public-sector-digitalisation/). Therefore, it is quite possible that in the future others could be reading the defamatory documents in my file which are unsubstantiated and have no response from me. This could unfairly affect me as a professional in the field. Is this just? Also, by not addressing this, the administrative staff would continue engaging in these unethical acts.

What I believe is the solution

The Ministry of Education has many officers who are tasked with resolving complex issues and are in management and leadership roles yet a simple little issue at a secondary school cannot be addressed and resolved in a timely manner? Guidelines and regulations govern the functioning of schools and conduct of teachers. Were the correct procedures followed when the incident occurred? No amount of leadership and management degrees and courses can compensate for bias which leads to incompetence.

If I were an education officer or the headteacher and the issue involved another teacher I would firstly define the problem. What exactly is the issue? Physical assault is broad; is it alleged that the teacher hit, slapped or kicked the student? After determining exactly what is the allegation, I would determine whether it is something that is allowed or not allowed in classroom management and the guidelines governing discipling students. If it’s something that is not allowed then I would check for evidence to corroborate the allegation. For example, if a child was hit is there a mark on his/her skin? What was used too. Then I would speak with the involved parties separately, cross-check the information received, determine whether the problem is as stated or not and resolve it following established guidelines.

The chairperson of the Board of Governors of Annandale Secondary School officially informed me, the director of the School Board Secretariat, the DCEO (Administration), Regional Education Officer (Region 4), Regional Executive Officer (Region 4), DEO and the headteacher that it was recommended that disciplinary action be taken against me since January 2025. What is supposed to happen next? Whoever is the chairperson now needs to issue another official letter to all parties on this matter. They either have a case against me or not. If I was wrongfully accused and there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations, then an official apology is required and this should be sent to all parties; this is the very least. If I were guilty would these people be dragging their feet like this?

Leadership is about accountability, transparency and taking responsibility for one’s actions. You do not ignore and pretend that something didn’t happen when you’ve made a mistake and displayed poor leadership and have poor conflict management and resolution skills. You take account, learn from the experience and improve as an individual. Also, you identify the breakdown in the system that led to the issue not being resolved in the first place and you address this so that a similar situation does not reoccur. This is good leadership and management; one does not need to take a fancy course to learn this. It comes from applying common sense and possessing qualities such as fairness, objectivity, accountability, respect for others even those who are your subordinate and empathy.

The post On being gaslighted and victimised by the Ministry of Education (Guyana) appeared first on Life in Guyana.

However, there are broad categorisations, expectations and prejudices based on simply what one is. For example, boys and girls are treated differently although biological sex is something the individual had no say in deciding. One is simply born that way and because of this attribute one is treated differently.  

Who I am, I decide. I haven’t fully embraced how others expect me to think and behave. If I did, I would have never rebelled. I would have accepted my fate and be an invisible person who simply lives and then fades. I am who I am because I chose not to accept this fate. However, I am still severely affected, traumatised and directed by the conditioning, culture and community. I have never been free, and I will never be free, this is a fact. My mind and body have been chained from the moment I entered the world as an Indo-Guyanese female and I will one day die still imprisoned but hopefully there will be less chains, but I know I will still be chained.  

Am I Indo-Guyanese though? I don’t feel that way. Am I Indian? I have brown skin and straight hair but if I go to India right now, I know that I’ll feel like an outsider. I am not what is expected. On top of that I’ve never fitted in, in the Indian community here so imagine what it would be like there. 

Am I Guyanese? To say that I am Guyanese implies that I am treated equally like other Guyanese. To say that I am Guyanese implies that I live in an egalitarian society. This is far from the truth. Racism and classism prevail in this developing, multi-ethnic country and is encouraged by a lack of accountability, fairness and transparency. 

What am I really? How do others see and treat me? What experiences have I had and how have I been shaped by that? It sounds self-indulgent and self-pitiful, but I need to answer that for myself. Accepting what I am gives me some amount of freedom. I can understand why I’ve had certain experiences and why I’ve never really fitted in. 

I am a Nobody-Coolie Woman; this is what I am 

I am not ashamed to embrace my identity. In fact, there is power and freedom in accepting what one is.  

A Nobody 

In Guyana, nobodies have to go through loops for the simplest things but that is how it is. For instance, to just get my neighbour to stop burning the garbage from his bar I had to visit various places including the NDC, RDC, Ministry and EPA. It was a battle that lasted for many years, but my health was affected. Eventually, through media exposure I got some relief. This is how the system works; there is classism, corruption and one has to know someone in` high office in order to get people to do the jobs they are paid to do. I wrote about my ordeal and a newspaper covered it: (https://lifeingy.com/air-pollution-indifference-and-corruption/ and https://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/12/02/news/guyana/lusignan-resident-seeking-relief-neighbours-fireside-fumes/).

Calling or visiting the police station when in need? Forget about it. A few encounters would provide enough substance to write a book. Nobody ever picks up when one calls the station and visiting them is pure stress. For instance, during the time I was battling my neighbour over his illegal burning I went to the police station to complain. Apart from being treated as if my complaint was trivial and being told that they had no vehicles to visit the location, they asked me for money to buy lunch! Funny and sad at the same time because if someone doesn’t have any money to give them would they deal with that person’s issue nevertheless? 

And when it comes to justice one can’t even find a half-decent lawyer who doesn’t have personal prejudices. You won’t find activist lawyers, there is no such thing as doing pro bono work and being a lawyer for most is about personal gains and not the passion for justice and fairness for all. Even if one can afford to pay a lawyer getting them to take the case is another hurdle. The ones I met have turned me off. It’s like one is not worthy enough to be their client. And because corrupt and powerful people know how lawyers operate and the justice system works, they are empowered to abuse and discriminate against others without facing consequences. For instance, I can’t even get legal representation although I have a strong case and can afford a lawyer (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2025/09/12/opinion/letters/am-yet-to-find-a-lawyer-who-is-willing-to-take-my-case/).

A Coolie 

There is no shame in being a Coolie. I don’t see it as a negative, I see it as the stark reality of life in Guyana. In multi-ethnic Guyana, there is blatant racism everywhere particularly between the two largest ethnic groups, Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese.  

Due to my ethnicity, I have faced racism in the public sphere: in the workplace (public sector), in my educational pursuits and during everyday interactions. I am not a politician, from a well-known family or ever had power and authority over others. I have faced racism in Guyana simply because I have straight hair and brown skin; I am a Coolie. And because I am a Coolie, I am expected to accept abuse and discrimination against me as normal. 

For example, when I was a 16-year-old student at the University of Guyana, an Afro-Guyanese lecturer tried several times to fail me for an introductory English Language course. For her last attempt she claimed that I didn’t sit the final examination for the course. Fortunately, I had the attendance slip which was signed by the invigilator but that didn’t help me much. When I complained, I was told that I’d be allowed to retake the exam as an ‘I grade exam’ but the highest grade I could obtain would be a C. I took the I-grade exam and of course the lecturer faced no consequences, but I was punished. Plus, a male whom I complained to asked me for sex. This sort of behaviour was and probably still is prevalent at the UG. Male lecturers felt quite comfortable preying on the vulnerable because in their eyes, students had reached the age of consent (16 years) and they were/are enabled by the deep-seated level of misogyny in the society. 

And an Afro-Guyanese woman, Soyinka Grogan from the Ministry of Public Service took away my medical school scholarship unjustly and of course there were no consequences for her, but the course of my life was changed. Her actions were not only unethical but also illegal. The contract was breached and I was discriminated against which I have proof of but because I am a Nobody Coolie, I was seen as an easy target and someone who others can discriminate against without facing consequences (https://lifeingy.com/constitutional-violations-and-discrimination-by-government-officials/). 

I’ve also faced racism in the workplace. For years, I was affected and although I complained many times I was ignored. The majority of workers in Guyana’s public sector are Afro-Guyanese and the majority of people with power and authority in this sector are also Afro-Guyanese. I’ve experienced going to Afro-Guyanese in management/leadership positions about workplace matters and either being ignored or my situation worsening because I dared to complain. What I’ve experienced is that Afro-Guyanese will not address a complaint if it’s against an Afro-Guyanese even if the person is clearly wrong. And I’ve experienced Afro-Guyanese condoning and even encouraging the bad behaviour of other Afro-Guyanese; it’s like they believe that they cannot go against people of their own ethnicity even if they are wrong. I’ve written about workplace discrimination (https://lifeingy.com/the-ministry-of-education-guyana-condoned-discrimination-by-failing-to-act-fairly-and-decisively/). And I plan to write about racism in other settings that I’ve experienced. 

A Coolie Female 

I was born into a patriarchal culture. I am expected to be like other brown females in the Indo-Guyanese community, but I have never quite fitted the mould and I don’t want to. I am expected to be silent, subservient and a person without dreams of her own. I am expected to follow the group. I am not seen as an individual and I’m not expected to be one. I’ve truly never fitted in and I’m seen as an outcast and rebel for being different.  

Due to expectations and the fact that I don’t fit in, I have never been supported or taken seriously. For example, in the workplace if I voice an opinion I am ignored. What is stated is not evaluated for merit because I am not supposed to have an opinion in the first place. Brown women are seen as frivolous, ‘brainless’ beings whose concerns should be about cooking, cleaning and other mundane chores associated with the home.  

In the family, I am expected to be silent. To be seen and not heard. To be hidden until I fade; existing as just another brown female, an accessory and not an individual.  

Many brown girls are raised like chickens, penned up their entire lives. No thought is given to the development and needs of the individual. 

In the community, people are concerned with the stupidest things like who is ‘whoring’ or not ‘whoring’. I felt so intellectually oppressed, it’s hard to have a conversation with people about anything of substance. And their obsession with vaginas is more about having power and control over the lives of girls and women (https://lifeingy.com/females-oppressed-because-of-obsession-hatred-of-vagina/). Many brown females are brainwashed into believing that they need to spend all their time in the home. Socialisation outside of the home is seen as immoral behaviour. It’s like one has to prove that one is a good Coolie girl by hiding in the house so that people will say ‘This girl is a good girl. I’ve never seen her talking to boys or going out. She is always at home.’ They style it as ‘proper behaviour’ but it’s all about control. 

Accepting what I am 

I am a Nobody-Coolie Woman. I’ve had certain experiences in my life because this is how I am seen. I am treated a certain way because this is what I am. Accepting what one is helps in understanding the ‘Why’.  

The post I am a Nobody-Coolie Woman; this is what I am appeared first on Life in Guyana.

Bullying in public schools across the country is once again in the spotlight mainly due to the incidents being broadcasted and shared on social media. However, nothing ever really changes and it’s like putting a bandage that is going to drop off 10 minutes later, on a festering wound. If grown adults constantly bully others what else can one expect from children? Accountability, compassion and empathy for others are missing from Guyanese society. Can these things be taught?

For real change to occur, empathy is necessary 

At one time, Guyana had the highest suicide rate in the world, and it still ranks at the top and probably still occupies first place since there is notable underreporting. Instead of focusing on why people feel the need to take their lives in the first place, the reaction to this ‘bad publicity’ was less media coverage for those who committed suicide and more emphasis on restricting access to the means used to commit these acts such as pesticides. 

However, these measures do not address the root cause of the problem. Furthermore, if one is determined to take one’s life then there are many unrestricted ways to commit the act and hiding the problem doesn’t make it go away. 

This post is based on my own experiences and observations as someone who has lived her entire life (except for less than 2 years abroad) in Guyana.  

My experience with bullying 

When I was 12 years old and in Form 2 (Grade 8), students and even teachers started bullying me. I got up to mischief and in a childish effort – I was a twelve-year-old child who thought like a child! – to save myself from a beating, I sipped some kerosene from a spoon then lied about how much I’d taken after I was cornered later. I thought that I could get my parent to feel sorry for me and not tell the other parent about what I’d done. The idea came to me because a neighbour’s child had accidentally drunk kerosene and I observed everyone making a fuss over him and treating him ‘special’. I wrote about this time in my life (https://lifeingy.com/my-experience-with-bullying/).

From the moment I returned to school I was bullied. I was called names such as ‘kero’ and ‘stove’ by students and even some male teachers. My story got twisted to satisfy the bullies. It became one where I’d attempted suicide over a boy (although the identity of the boy was never revealed to me). My plan was not to commit suicide nor was the reason for the act due to a boy but that was the prevailing assumption probably because the truth was too boring.  

Reaction from the school 

I was called names and students even made up ‘songs’ to bully me which they would loudly sing when I walked by. Boys in the upper levels were the main culprits and teachers were aware of what was happening yet I was never referred to a counsellor or the matter addressed by teachers until I was about to enter Grade 11. The then HM spoke to us at an assembly about bullying and that helped to some extent; the name calling reduced.  

For years, I was emotionally affected at school by the bullying and my way of coping was to pretend (or maybe it was real, I can’t remember) to be ill. I’d faint and someone would go to the school to get me. I remember even being carried out by my parent’s cousin. I think my body reacted that way because I wanted to stay home but that didn’t work. 

Although, all of this was happening, nothing was never addressed. My parents and teachers never asked me ‘Why?’. Sounds unbelievable, but that is exactly what happened. Guyanese believe that by ignoring or avoiding an issue it would magically go away or resolve on its own and I still observe this behaviour up to now. Plus, maybe they don’t want to get involved or have to think too deeply; it’s better to be shallow and indulge in stuff such as gossiping and labelling rather than have to see someone as a person with real feelings.  

The knife incident 

One of the leaders of the bullying pack, an older boy (now man), Bramanand Seemangal decided to up the ante from his loud ‘singing’. He would join the same bus I got into after dismissal and make a lot of sexual remarks about me. This was to make me more uncomfortable plus further embarrass me in front of other students. I remember he said that he was having ‘wet dreams’ about me. And at the time, I couldn’t speak to nobody about this. Teachers were unapproachable and I couldn’t talk to my parents about anything. Everything was off topic especially things of a sexual nature. There was absolutely no communication. I still wonder why they decided to have children in the first place but I’d leave that for a future post and my aim would not be to embarrass but talk about the lack of communication in Indo-Guyanese families. Plus, their relatives never commented or asked me about my so-called suicide attempt so it’s not a limited issue. 

Well, after one particularly embarrassing afternoon in the bus I came home and debated in my mind how to handle the situation. I decided to take a butter knife from the kitchen to threaten the bully the following day. I thought that would deter him from embarrassing me further. However, I told my classmates about what I planned to do soon after arriving at school. They told the teacher and without asking me anything about the matter I was told to report to the Education Department the following day with my parent.  

My parent and I went. A male officer spoke with me and what I remember about him was that he was polite, friendly and understanding. I felt so comfortable talking to him that I asked to speak to him alone. I felt embarrassed talking about the issue with my parent in the room, so he waited outside. At the end of the conversation, I was told to return to school the next day. I don’t know what was said to my parent and the HM but I wasn’t suspended. The next day, when the HM saw me she commented that I had ‘contacts’ at the dept! Although, it never got to the point of me threatening the bully with the knife, he was seen as the victim.  

Reaction from teachers in the school 

All of this happened at Annandale Secondary School. At the time, the school didn’t have counsellors and no teacher (in my case) took on the responsibility of ‘talking’ to so-called troubled or otherwise affected students but all knew that I was being bullied because the students would loudly call me kero, stove or other related words whenever they saw me and of course, there was the singing crew. 

In fact, I was even called these names by some male teachers and labelled as someone with ‘psychiatric’ issues probably due to my reaction to the bullying which included fainting. For instance, in 5th Form I was forced to complain to the HM about a teacher and after, he no longer came to our class. He never even taught me yet was bullying me due to his perceptions about me. I was in the Science Stream and he was a business teacher (Mr. N.S) but when our class teacher was on leave, he marked the register. During this short period he picked on me by asking if I was stupid, an idiot etc., if I didn’t respond loud enough or did something that gave him the excuse to indulge in his name calling. It got so bad that my classmates were the ones who actually urged me to complain to the HM, Ms. Singh about him. Our science class was the smallest and for whatever reason we were more empathetic and understanding towards each other. I was never bullied by them and some of us still keep in contact. 

After school reaction from teachers 

Years later, I returned to the school as a grown woman for a particular purpose and I met a few teachers who were teaching when I was a student there. One stared at me (the DHM) but I couldn’t remember him so I asked if he knew me and he said that he taught me when I was in the lower forms. Then he said that I had psychiatric issues with a smirk on his face. He wasn’t a health worker in the field but he ‘diagnosed’ me as having psychiatric issues.  

The HM, Mr. Persaud said that he didn’t know that I wanted to be in the education field so I told him about my medical school ordeal. Then he said that it’s a good thing that didn’t work out or else I could have killed the patients! What a nasty, distasteful thing to say! In Guyanese patriarchal society lots of men feel that they can say whatever they feel like saying to women. I actually wanted to be a pathologist or epidemiologist which would not have required interacting with ‘live’ patients.

These educated teachers who taught me when I was a student felt comfortable saying those things to me although, apart from our student-teacher/professional interactions we didn’t know each other. Basically, they perceived me a certain way when I was a student (child) and carried that same bias which they chose to apply to the adult me.  

Apart from those interactions a few other teachers (males) called me names such as ‘kero’ behind my back, whenever they saw me although we were all grown adults and the incident happened decades ago! 

Community and societal reaction 

I continued to be bullied (name calling) long after high school and even presently by some. I was bullied at university because some students from my school and community went on to university and told others about the names they’d call me.  

And I was bullied in the neighbourhood by adults. One time, a middle-aged woman with some children crowded around her, asked if I am the person they call ‘kero’ when I visited her house with others to conduct registration. Her intention was to belittle me although we didn’t know each other personally; this is how prevalent and audacious bullying is. 

Throughout the years, nobody never asked me about what exactly happened nor did I receive any form of counselling/therapy. In fact, in the society there was and still is, great stigma attached to these forms of treatment and it is seen as something reserved for ‘mad people’ (their label). 

On the job 

Workplace bullying is a whole other topic but regarding this particular incident in my childhood, it reared its head again through my students. For instance, at my former workplace an older male student started calling me Kero, and when I confronted him he said that his father told him that I drank kerosene and that’s what they call me. And recently, at my present workplace, a Grade 7 female student approached me after class and said that her father, K. Jailal (an employee of the MoE) told her that he knows me and that I drank poison for a boy.  

This is how many grown men and women in Guyana, regardless of educational background and age behave. They gossiped (technically speaking, Slander) about me with their children and influenced them to be disrespectful to me although I was/am their teacher.

On the road 

I’d be walking on the public road and minding my own business when out of nowhere a grown Guyanese man (most of the time), with a wife and children most likely, would shout ‘Kero’ behind my back! Once, I turned around with my phone to snap a photo of the bully and he felt more offended by my actions. He literally started following me with an angry expression on his face; I had to duck into a store. He felt it was OK to bully me and expected me to do nothing about it…a grown man bullying a woman. This is typical. Another one (HC 9310) did the same when he saw me going to the national library and when I turned around he hurriedly pressed the accelerator.  

What it boils down to 

There is an overall lack of empathy in Guyanese society. Many persons here feed off of the suffering of others. When I was 12 years old, it was assumed that I tried to commit suicide. Instead of getting sympathy, understanding and help, I got bullied and still continue to be bullied. It’s like these pathetic adults feel like it’s their right to punish me for something which doesn’t even have anything to do with them whether true or not!  

Many persons have attempted suicide and survived but here, if one survives a suicide attempt (real or not) it’s like they feel its their right to bully you until you successfully commit the act.   

Bullying in the society 

Bullying is engrained in the fabric of the society. People who are perceived to be different and/or suffering from mental health issues are bullied.  

I have seen others being bullied especially persons from the LGBT community and they are bullied relentlessly. I’ve witnessed students who are perceived as being too effeminate or to be gays/lesbians being bullied by students and even teachers. Many end up being disowned by their families and a few that I personally know left Guyana to live in more tolerant countries. 

One time, I observed a woman wearing a Kimar, being bullied by a vendor on the pavement. He asked her if she had a bomb under her dress and other nonsense along that line; she didn’t look or speak to him but kept walking. The stories are countless and one is constantly bombarded by it on social media but what it all points to is endemic bullying that is part of the cultural mindset of Guyanese. 

Tolerance, understanding, compassion and empathy

Would people bully and abuse others if they had compassion and empathy for them? Many adults in Guyana bully others, it’s not a school yard issue alone. Children see their parents bullying others and they then feel that it’s right to engage in the same behaviour. Bullying is far more pervasive and localised at the same time. The adults need to change their behaviour first if change is to occur with the children. Many are intolerant, lack compassion and empathy for others and the way their children behave is a reflection of themselves.

The post Out pops ‘Kero’ from the mouths of pathetic bullies appeared first on Life in Guyana.

The first time I had my period 

The first time I had my period I thought that I was dying then immediately after I felt great shame because of the body part involved. My shame was greater than my fear of dying so I told nobody about it. I used handkerchiefs and socks as makeshift pads to soak up the blood then either disposed of these in the garbage or hid it under a shed we had in the yard. Eventually, I was found out but nothing was said to me about the process. I was just given some sanitary pads. The shame remained though.  

Why the Shame?

Misogynistic practices and beliefs in the Indo-Guyanese community are passed down from generation to generation dating back to when the ancestors came from India.

Video below from the: United Nations on Managing Menstrual Hygiene in India

The vagina is taboo 

The vagina was and still is not discussed like a normal topic. It is unmentionable, hidden, taboo, dirty…. that is how they see it and everything related to it. 

Nobody talked about menstruation but when I became a ‘young lady’ suddenly I was unwelcomed at their homes. It was as if the vagina was going to pollute their environment; I had become a dirty thing.  

Even girls do not talk about the vagina and related biological processes among themselves. It’s like they pretend that they don’t have vaginas or it’s like a decorative organ that one just washes and leaves alone. 

How they act and what they say

Sometimes, my female students would ask to use the washroom and divulge the extra bit of information about being on their period without me asking for this. Maybe, they believe that by telling me this I’d allow them to leave the class immediately and spend more time than usual in the washroom. Personally, I do not have an issue with students going to the washroom during my class so the justification is not needed but whenever they mention their period it’s always a whisper as if it’s something to be embarrassed about and they would look embarrassed.

Growing up, whenever I went to the shop in the village to buy pads the seller would wrap the pack of Stayfree with newspapers then place it in a black plastic bag although thin, light-coloured bags were used for other items. The pads because of their purpose were to be hidden. And even then, discussing the period and period-related issues such as cramps and heavy bleeding among girls my age was not something we did. I didn’t want others to know when I was having it and my friends didn’t tell me either. Although we all had vaginas we were all conditioned to view the vagina as something dirty and unmentionable.

And how do men and women feel about it? An unmentionable topic for most.

One day at my workplace I bought some polourie (fried flour mixed with split peas) from a vendor and when I attempted to eat one, it smelled ‘off’. Apparently the sour had spoilt so I informed the DHM because students could get sick from buying the same thing and I wanted him to check out the item himself. Later, when I asked him about it he said that the sour had indeed spoilt but it was probably because a woman who was having her period made the sour or handled it!

Another time, I was having a conversation with a pathologist about the autopsy process and I made a comment about menstruation. Immediately, he screwed up his face as if I’d just said something nasty, put down what he was eating and told me to change the topic. Imagine we were having a long conversation about dead people while we were eating fried fish and other stuff and the moment I mentioned menstruation in dead females he found the topic too dirty to be discussed but talking about decomposition etc., wasn’t!

And when I was growing up nobody never discussed menstruation with me. I learnt about it and the female anatomy during my biology class in Grade 10. At the time, I didn’t own a computer, there was none in the home and we had no access to the internet. Those were the days when I actually had to visit the library to read outdated books for information to complete assignments.

In the Indo-Guyanese community 

Many Indo-Guyanese girls are conditioned from a very young age to view their vaginas as dirty and shameful. The Indo-Guyanese patriarchal culture and concrete gender roles and norms significantly contribute to how the brown female is viewed and raised but what about the personal development of the individual? How does brainwashing girls to hate their vaginas help them or improve their lives? It doesn’t, it only helps to promote patriarchal values and maintain control over girls and women. 

I believe that because brown women are not seen as individuals with their own needs, dreams, rights and desire to achieve personal growth and development, the way they are raised has more to do with the needs of others than their own needs. By conditioning brown girls to view themselves as dirty and inferior due to having vaginas between their legs the status quo is maintained and having control and power over them remain. 

The post Vagina Shame should be addressed alongside Period Poverty  appeared first on Life in Guyana.

I have never encountered a good lawyer in Guyana, and this is my assertion based on my own experiences. When I think about the encounters I’ve had, words such as snobbery, classism, sexism, unprofessionalism, partiality and lack of knowledge engulf the memories. Others may have had positive experiences and encountered very knowledgeable, professional and impartial lawyers. However, I can’t comment on the good ones because I’m yet to meet one.  

The beginning 

The first time I sought the advice of a lawyer was in 2011 after I found myself blacklisted at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. I was not allowed to board the plane and I was not informed in writing or verbally that I could not leave the country. The year prior, my medical school scholarship was taken away unjustly, leaving me broke, depressed and homeless while others including the daughter of the head of the presidential secretariat, the late Roger Luncheon were allowed to continue their studies in Cuba after facing personal difficulties and returning to Guyana. 

Why was I blacklisted? I was not allowed to return to my university by the Ministry of Public Service in Guyana although the Cuban university officials told me that I could and I was not given a job by the government, yet I was ‘blacklisted’. The Government of Guyana not only breached the contract it signed with me but it engaged in discriminatory practices. Furthermore, I was racially discriminated against by Soyinka Grogan, an Afro-Guyanese employee of the ministry whose role it was to assist me but instead she chose to engage in the most unethical behaviour. I wrote about my ordeal in the media (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2020/08/27/the-ministry-of-public-service-discriminated-against-me-and-violated-my-constitutional-rights/), it was covered by a newspaper (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2017/06/11/news/guyana/high-court-deemed-name-blacklist-unlawful-2012-woman-still-forced-produce-court-order-travel-today/) and I wrote about it on my blog (https://lifeingy.com/constitutional-violations-and-discrimination-by-government-officials/).  

Well, after I was prevented from leaving the country in July 2011, I reached out to various persons for help with the situation. I wrote to the then Attorney General (AG) who is also the AG presently, Anil Nandlall. I got a call from the Ministry inviting me for a meeting. Unfortunately, when the AG saw me, he asked if my lawyer wrote the letter. It was as if I looked too ‘dumb’ to be able to write a letter by myself. I had referred to certain clauses of the Constitution of Guyana. Anyway, I got no help from him.   

Then after telling an acquaintance about my problem, he told his friend who was a minister. The minister agreed to see me but that turned out to be another dead end and further bolstered the unfavourable image in my mind about the way the VVIPs treat ordinary people in the country. This man, who I believe is now a private citizen, begun the conversation with me in the crudest manner. I met him in his office at the ministry. He said that I was a ‘jackass’ for giving up my scholarship. Although, what he stated was wrong, I was more offended by the manner in which he was speaking to me and the name calling. I told him he couldn’t speak to me like that and he said something to the effect that if I didn’t like how he spoke the door was there for me to leave. So, I just got up and left. The ‘meeting’ lasted for about 2 minutes! 

Accused of seeking free advice 

From July to November 2011, I was just writing letters and telling persons about this matter without any progress. One of the persons I spoke with actually accused me of trying to get free advice from him! Unlike a doctor who could probably make a quick diagnosis about a simple illness on the spot and recommend treatment if I told him/her about my symptoms while having a friendly conversation how can the ‘informal’ advice of a lawyer I’m having a conversation with actually help me when the matter will have to be taken to the court for it to decide? Plus, based on my own research which included downloading and analysing a copy of the Constitution of Guyana, I felt in my bones that what had been done to me was completely wrong and even using bare ‘common sense’ I knew that correct protocols were not followed by the GoG. 

Back to the lawyer…I was on the University of Guyana Campus and ended up having a conversation with a man who was the Head of the UG Law Department, and he claimed that he was also a judge at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). So, I told him about my issue. He listened then said that the only thing he felt the Ministry of Public Service did wrong was charge me 70% interest and maybe I could get that reduced. He saw nothing wrong with me being blacklisted or not being allowed to continue my studies. Then he accused me of trying to get free advice from him! No wonder he was no longer a judge at the CCJ as he claimed… 

The first lawyer’s letter 

One day in November 2011, while telling a JP at Maraj Building about the blacklisting issue, he introduced me to a friend of his who was a US based Guyanese and after telling this man my story he immediately suggested that I take the legal route. He even took me to a lawyer nearby and paid for a ‘lawyer’s letter’ which was sent to the Minister of the Ministry of Public Service, Dr Jennifer Westford; she did not respond. And when I had approached Dr Nanda Gopaul with the issue of not being allowed to continue my studies in 2010, this same minister told him that I have a boyfriend in Guyana. Apparently, that was why she couldn’t assist me however, if I had a boyfriend or not how was that relevant? I was 23 years old when I was sent to Cuba. I believe that racism played a great role in her refusal to assist me. 

Meeting the ‘screeners’ and unprofessionalism 

In Guyana, one of the most classist and snobby groups I’ve encountered are lawyers. Many feel that they are superior, and the ‘commonfolk’ are underserving of their ‘elite’ service. And many have perceptions about Indo-Guyanese women and girls which are reflected in the way they treat them. The brown woman is perceived to be an idiot without financial resources who spends her time in the home cooking, cleaning and being controlled by male family members.  

Many lawyers in Guyana have ‘screeners’ and the ones without probably can’t afford one as yet. These screeners/receptionists determine whether one is ‘worthy enough’ to see the great lawyer. On many occasions I’ve been asked to state in detail why I want to see the lawyer by these screeners in the reception area. Other clients and employees would see the person and hear everything that is being said. Then the screener would determine if one can proceed to the lawyer. The ‘potential’ client gets no privacy and confidentiality from the onset and at the same time they are most likely being judged on appearance and whether they have financial resources or not. Saying that it’s a civil or criminal matter that one would prefer to discuss with the lawyer will not get you past the screener. Imagine if one was raped/sodomised then one would be further victimised by having to state in detail in the presence of all, why she/he wants to see the lawyer. This is how the law offices I’ve visited in Guyana operate. A complete lack of privacy, confidentiality and respect for the ‘potential’ clients. Furthermore, after going through this undignified process and everyone knowing your ‘business’ the receptionist would then make his/her judgement without speaking to the lawyer or sending you to him/her. I’ve heard ‘you have no case’ or ‘the lawyer doesn’t deal with that kind of matter’. Worst yet if you visit the office of a ‘top lawyer/law firm’, you’ll never see the lawyer’s door. I’ve had such experiences at Poonai & Poonai, Cameron & Shepherd and others in that category. 

Meeting the lawyers 

I sought consultation with lawyers about three (3) matters in my life: 

1) Neighbour burning garbage – In this country people are allowed to open businesses including restaurants without having a proper place and/or facilities for their venture. My neighbour was making me constantly sick due to the fact that he was burning all the waste material including Styrofoam boxes and plastic from his business on a daily basis and he was deep frying all the restaurant food on an outdoor set up which was also creating a lot of smoke. During the years I spent trying to get him to stop burning and use the dump trucks instead, like everyone in the village I wrote to and visited various entities including the NDC, RDC, Ministry of Local Government and EPA without getting the required assistance. I even paid for a ‘Lawyer’s letter’ to be sent to this man but that wasn’t a deterrent. Eventually I turned to the media and that was the only entity that ‘frightened’ him. As far as legal remedies go, I only sought the ‘lawyer’s letter’. I wrote about this matter here, (https://lifeingy.com/air-pollution-indifference-and-corruption/). No complaints about the lawyer since I only saw one and the only thing I requested was the letter. 

2) Workplace discrimination – Since I began working as a public-school teacher I’ve faced discrimination. While Indo-Guyanese are the largest ethnic group in the country the vast majority of public servants including teachers are Afro-Guyanese and most persons in supervisory positions are Afro-Guyanese.  

When I was hired the appointment letter stated that after 4 years of serving at one school I can apply for a transfer to another and that I must seek teachers’ training. Well, from the moment I started at my workplace (Ann’s Grove Secondary School) I faced racism, abuse and other forms of mistreatment from Afro-Guyanese teachers. And complaining to the education officers who were also Afro-Guyanese got me nowhere, in fact my plight became worse. They engaged in tribalism/racism themselves and told the HM of Ann’s Grove Secondary School, Cindy Cooper – Crandon/Cindy Crandon that I sought a transfer so she decided to make my life more uncomfortable and of course I was denied the transfer. Even the education officers were so biased that once I sought a private apology (not in front of teachers and students) from the cleaner and I couldn’t even get that. She was chatting with other teachers in a group about fake body parts and when I passed the table she grabbed my backside twice! While I do believe that there wasn’t anything sexual about her actions, I couldn’t allow people to just grab my backside or breasts at my workplace. If I said nothing I was basically sending a message that I was OK with it so I told the DHM, Karen Bishop and after the apology was not forthcoming I told the officer, Loren Park when he visited the school and still I couldn’t get a simple ‘sorry’. That was just one incident in a series that showed me how valued I was as an employee.  

After the education officers refused to transfer me, my situation at the school became worse and my mental and physical health deteriorated so I went to see a few lawyers. A female lawyer at Maraj Building told me that I should just try to ‘talk’ with the people. And a screener at Luckhoo & Luckhoo told me that he didn’t see anything wrong with the cleaner groping me so of course I wasn’t allowed to see a lawyer there. Then a lawyer, Mr Jackson (from Templar Chambers) strung me along and wasted my time. He asked me to outline the problems I was having at the school and after doing so he said that he didn’t see ‘just cause’ for legal action to be taken, below summarises what I alleged to him.  

1) The MOE failed to address my allegations of workplace victimization although aware of my plight through my interaction with the Secondary Officer, Regional Education Officer, Ministry of Education and the press. 

2) I alleged that I was groped by the cleaner yet I never even received an apology from the person nor was I made aware of any internal investigation and the outcome. I informed the Deputy HM (Karen Bishop) of the incident on two occasions. She never told me whether she asked the cleaner about the incident (I received no feedback). I also described the incident in a ‘Letter to the Editor’. My letter was published in the Kaieteur Newspaper. There was no response from the MoE via the press or privately. During a visit to the Dept. Of Edu. (I was taken there by my HM and DHM) I informed the secondary officers (a GTU rep was also present) of my situation at the school including the incident with the cleaner where I received no apology. Shortly after I saw the secondary officer at my school, he did not speak to me, I was not made aware of whether he was investigating my claim(s) and I never received an apology from the cleaner. 

3) I alleged that I was threatened with bodily harm by the DHM. The incident was witnessed by teachers and students and occurred during working hours in the  Ann’s Grove Secondary School building. The HM did not enquire from me about the incident. Although, I described this matter in another ‘Letter to the Editor’ which was published in Kaieteur News I was not made aware of any internal investigation nor did I receive an apology from the DHM. The MoE did not respond to my published missive. 

4) At the end of last term, I completed my teacher’s assessment along with others from the English dept in the presence of the Head of Dept who was guiding us on how to assign scores to ourselves. This assessment is several pages and covers many different areas. At the end of the assessment the percentages of all teachers fell within the ‘A’ grade including mine. Later, the HoD approached me and said that my grade was changed to a ‘D’ because of the incident with the Deputy threatening me. On the day of the incident the HoD was not even present at school! I told her that areas that she gave me one point for were never identified as issues, meaning that she did not at any time during the term speak to me about being weak/failing in those areas. I found the excuse illogical. Also, my score could affect a future application for promotion within the profession. 

5) When I was hired by the Teaching Service Commission in 2012 the appointment letter stated that ‘You may request transfer to another school giving one (1) month’s notice after serving a period of four (4) years in a coastland school or two (2) years in a hinterland/riverain school, except you are permitted to enjoy one of the exceptions of the transfer policy.’ I sought a transfer from my school in 2016 – four years after being hired – from the then Secondary Officer, Ms. Tiffany Harvey at the Dept. Of Edu. Region 4. I told her that the school was too far from where I live, she said that this reason was not good for a transfer. So, I told her that I felt victimised at the school. She told me to write about the various incidents. After reading my letter she said that I didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘victimisation’ and she proceeded to humiliate me over my outfit. She said that my skirt was too tight and forced me to stand up and turn around. Her secretary was present (a former student of mine). I felt so humiliated by this that I ended up in tears. Ms. Harvey never produced any document to show that I had breached the dress code for teachers. After this incident in January 2017, I sought a transfer again from the new Secondary Officer (Ms. Harvey was promoted). This Officer asked me to make several copies of my letter seeking a transfer. I did this and handed them to her. When I returned later to enquire about my transfer request, the Secondary Officer (Ms Atkinson) said that the REdO (ag), Ms. Harvey has declared that the only place I can be transferred to is out of Region 4. This was not a feasible solution for me since I lived in the middle of Region 4. 

6) My appointment states, ‘You are required to commence Teachers’ Training at the Cyril Potter’s College of Education to upgrade your status within two years from the date of this appointment, failing which, your services shall be terminated.’ Due to the issues at my school I often thought of leaving the profession and was not motivated to pursue training. However, after staying on for years I decided to seek training via the postgraduate diploma in education route since I was already equipped with a bachelor’s degree and this training would elevate my status to that of ‘trained’ teacher. In 2018, I begun the application process and was informed by a registration clerk at UG that I should get a letter from my school stating that I was employed there. When I informed the HM of my wish to pursue training and the need for an employment letter from her, she said that she had enough teachers already going to UG and refused to give me the employment letter. I told her that my classes were only going to be on Saturdays and that I was not going to pursue a bachelor’s degree (I already have a bachelor’s degree which was recognized by the MoE, my status is ‘Untrained Graduate’) but teachers’ training which would elevate my status to ‘Trained Graduate’. She still refused to give me the letter. I went to the Ministry of Education and spoke with Ms. Viera who said to just get the letter from the MoE and pursue my training, I didn’t need the HM’s permission. I did this and enrolled in the programme. Also, in one of my letters to the press I mentioned the fact that my HM refused to give me an employment letter when I mentioned that I needed it for teachers’ training. No response was forthcoming from the MoE. I began my programme and during the second semester my lecturer had to visit my school to assess my classroom teaching. On that day I informed the HM that my lecturer from UG was going to visit me in the afternoon to assess my teaching skills. She said to take my lecturer to her when she arrives. I did this, she said nothing other than a basic greeting to my lecturer. I proceeded to my classroom. During the class the HM entered and spoke for a while with my lecturer while I was teaching. She sabotaged my practicum. She was not supposed to enter while I was teaching. My lecturer said the HM spoke badly about me. The lecturer was upset and refuses to visit the school again, I was forced to redo my lesson at another school. 

7) I have been denied access to certain areas of the school that other teachers are allowed to use. For example, for my practicum due to the fact that I planned two lessons to do with two different classes I had made arrangements to use an empty classroom. On the day of my practicum, the HM refused to let me use the room. I was forced to move from one class to another without arranging it prior. This placed me at a disadvantage for the assessment. 

8) Due to the bad relationship between me and the HM, she has allowed other teachers to verbally abuse me and in the case of incidents involving me, she does not address them. I was given the subject ‘English’ to teach. I taught to the best of my abilities. I am not a trained English teacher, nor do I have a degree in English. My highest qualification in this subject is a Grade 1 at CXC. The Head of Dept.(HoD), Mbulu Nedd never mentored me and during those years I was only given the opportunity once to attend a workshop which dealt with marking SBAs, something which I was not tasked with doing at the school. Yet the HoD once complained to the HM that I was teaching English ‘like a comprehension’. She never explained what she meant by this, never produced evidence to substantiate her claim and never tried to mentor me on how to teach to suit her (I learnt during teachers’ training that there are various approaches to teaching and people have different styles). In the presence of the HM and several other teachers she said that I was incompetent, the weakest link in her dept. and nobody wanted me to be in their department. She did not relate any particular incident but made these broad statements which I found humiliating and abusive. At a later date she said that I was mentally ill. The DHM told me to teach Spanish in the entire Grades 7 and 8. The HM nor HoD never gave me any Grade 7 or 8 Spanish schemes. I was also never given any curriculum guides, just one textbook (with one workbook) for grade 7 and one for grade 8. Although, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Management, I was never given any Business periods yet teachers with just CXC passes in Business are teaching Business Studies. 

9) Ms Crandon has verbally abused me in the presence of others on a number of occasions and has allowed other teachers to do the same by not addressing the matter when they occur.  

10) Ms Crandon sent letters on several occasions to the Dept. Of Education requesting that disciplinary action be taken against me without giving me copies of these letters or making me aware of her intentions. I was informed by Education Officials that this is unprofessional of my HM yet these officials did not address my claims that the HM was treating me unfairly.  The MoE ignored my plight and left me to work in a toxic environment. 

With everything I outlined above, the lawyer, Mr Jackson did not see an issue not to mention the fact that I was being denied a transfer although entitled to such. This is how lawyers operate in Guyana.  

After this, I got demotivated and can’t recall seeking out more lawyers about this specific issue. Eventually in 2020, I was ‘transferred’ informally after a bigger incident occurred. I wrote about the matter here, https://lifeingy.com/the-ministry-of-education-guyana-condoned-discrimination-by-failing-to-act-fairly-and-decisively/ and https://lifeingy.com/hgp-nightly-news-broadcasted-one-sided-story-fake-protesters/  

3) The third issue I consulted lawyers about was being blacklisted at the airport in 2011 – That was a very stressful and time-consuming ordeal. I met lawyers who told me I had no case and I spoke with screeners who didn’t let me pass them. I was even verbally abused by a lawyer, the father of well-known magistrate Peter Hugh; he spoke to me as if I were an idiot. As I mentioned before, Guyanese society is very classist apart from the racism and sexism especially towards Indo-Guyanese women. If one is not from a well-known family, connected, rich or influential then one is seen as a ‘nobody’ and those who consider themselves elites in the society don’t even want to talk to you.  

I met many unprofessional lawyers but there is no point to rehashing everything; the encounters were very similar. However, I finally met a lawyer, Glenn Hanoman (from Templar Chambers) who called a price that was affordable and agreed to take the case. He gave it to a female lawyer in the firm. While I was glad that they took it, I felt that they didn’t represent me to the best of their ability. I specifically said that I wanted to be present in court when the matter was called yet this female lawyer went to court twice (I believe) without me. I was not informed of the court date. I was only informed of the next hearing because the Chief Justice of the High Court, Ian Chang whom the matter was before told the lawyer that he wanted to see me in court. Imagine, after telling me about this new development the lawyers said that my presence was not necessary and made comments to me suggesting that I didn’t have proper clothing to go to court with! Usually, when I went to the law firm to speak with the lawyers I wore jeans but I didn’t intend to go to court wearing jeans. And since this was the first matter I consulted lawyers about I knew nothing about how the court system worked. I didn’t know that the case could have been thrown out if I didn’t appear in court. Frankly, if I was allowed to file the matter myself I would have done so. At one point, before meeting Mr Hanoman and getting frustrated with the other lawyers I consulted, I approached the Registrar of the High Court to find out if I could file and represent myself but I was told that I needed a lawyer to represent me.  

Anyway, I went before the judge. I actually had to search for the lawyer in the corridor, she was busy chatting with her colleague when the judge walked into the room and I was told that on a previous occasion she was absent for the hearing. At the end, the judge ruled in my favour and made his decision absolute. Although, the lawyers for the Attorney General asked for more time to present their case, at the next hearing they had nothing to present and my lawyer was berated for not writing the legal documents for me correctly.  

The only thing that was presented before the judge by my lawyer was the blacklisting matter so the judge ruled that the government had violated my constitutional rights and cannot prevent me from leaving the country or take my property. The matter of the government through the Ministry of Public Service breaching the contract it signed with me, discriminating against me etc., was never presented before the judge. And although the judge ruled in my favour I didn’t get back the money I spent to hire my lawyer, the cost of the plane ticket nor the cost for the accommodation I’d paid for in advance when I was stopped at the airport. I believe my lawyer didn’t request this; I didn’t know the procedure for doing so. Basically, it was ruled that the government violated my constitutional rights and I couldn’t even get back the money I spent to hire the lawyer. While the case was ongoing I had to borrow money from my sibling to pay legal fees because I was rehired as a teacher in January 2012 and only got paid in May 2012 (public servants having to wait months to get paid is another issue). The matter concluded in June 2012, so I had to repay my sibling plus had other expenses.  

The aftermath 

Well I have a legal document with the judge’s ruling but my name is still on a list at the airport so every time I travel I have to present this old one page document! How is this logical? 

The last time I travelled out of the country I got so fed up of the interrogation and having to present my document to the Guyanese immigration officers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport that I decided to seek further legal advice on the matter when I returned to Guyana after a short vacation. 

One of the worst lawyers I’ve met 

Due to my bad experiences with Guyanese lawyers, I started looking for foreigners who were practicing in Guyana but I couldn’t find any. So I went to the Guyana Bar Association and the only person I met there was the receptionist. After briefly telling her why I looking for a foreign lawyer, she said that she didn’t know any but recommended a ‘good’ local lawyer.  

Well the local lawyer turned out to be a complete buffoon (can’t think of a more suitable adjective). Mr Bernard Da Silva was someone I can’t recall ever interacting with until that first meeting. I told his receptionist, a pleasant young lady that I’d like to consult with him and did indicate that this was going to be the first meeting. He probably pays her exceptionally well for her to be working for such an unrefined and unprofessional personality.

After waiting a bit she ushered me into his office and the first thing I noted was another person (an older man), either a client or relative sitting in one of the chairs reserved for clients. Although, I found this strange and it denied me privacy and confidentiality I began telling my story to Da Silva. I had to explain the entire Cuban medical school scholarship fiasco to show how I ended up being blacklisted.  

From the start I noted Da Silva’s unprofessional behaviour. When I told him that I believe that the Ministry of Public Service sent my name to the immigration dept. for me to be blacklisted he instantly stated that he was good friends with the Minister of Public Service. He said that they were at law school together therefore, given their good relationship he should have refused to hear my matter if he knew he couldn’t be impartial. However, I was asked to continue and he started making nasty remarks which infuriated me. The ‘observer’ said nothing but looked uncomfortable and embarrassed throughout the meeting. Mr Da Silva said that I was giving off ‘toxic vibes’, asked if I was blacklisted from getting married and made other nasty remarks. First of all, people don’t go to doctors and lawyers when they are happy and without problems. I spoke seriously and showed how the problem was affecting me; I couldn’t smile and giggle while explaining the hassle I went through at the airport. 

The meeting with Bernard Da Silva left such a bitter taste in my mouth that I tried to lodge a complaint with the body that oversees lawyers. Apparently, there is a little ‘unknown’ body that one can complain to but given the fact that this entity is hardly ever in the news I had to make several calls. Eventually, I got on to a popular lawyer who is on that committee but he was very dismissive of my complaint on the phone. So, I sent a letter to the Guyana Bar Association. This place is always in the news but actually functions more like a lawyers’ club and doesn’t address issues like unprofessional behaviour. About 2 months after, I got the Bar Association response. I was advised to lodge my complaint with the ‘unknown’ entity. By then I had gotten over my anger with the bad lawyer so I took no further action. 

Now

I dread going to lawyers about anything; I have been turned off completely. Members of the public should be able to take matters before the courts by themselves and there should be a place where one can seek advice or get assistance on the process.

The Guyana Legal Aid Clinic isn’t for everyone. I visited during my ‘blacklisting’ matter and was told that this entity does not take cases against government institutions. From what I’ve heard it mainly deals with domestic violence and divorce matters. What is there for ordinary citizens when it comes to getting justice?

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I sent the ‘letter’ below to the newspapers for them to print in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ section because I not only wanted my issue to be addressed but felt that others may have had similar problems with their accounts. My letter was not published so I decided to complain to the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission. To date, I have not received any update on the matter. While the disputed sum is small, my complaint is about principles and trust. The bank should honour the transactions it approved and operate in a fair and ethical manner.

Previously, I had cause to complain publicly about the same bank (I need my refund from Republic Bank and What is the definition of a signature?).

Dear Editor,

Republic Bank took money from my account without my authorisation

I have a debit account with Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited (RBL) that according to my account information, has an overdraft limit of GYD 0.00.  I mainly use the account for online transactions. Whenever I want to do online shopping or make payments, I’d do an electronic funds transfer.

Last Tuesday, 4^th March 2025, I did my transfer and made a purchase from a reputable US company (Merchant A). The transaction was approved by RBL; the reference number is 690922. I received email notification, and the required amount was put on hold. Then the following day I did another transfer and made a purchase from another well-known US company (Merchant B). My transaction was approved, and the reference number is 747071. I have the email from RBL and the amount for this merchant was also put on hold. In the past, I made many purchases from both merchants without encountering problems with the orders or financial transactions.

Last Friday, while checking my online banking platform I noticed discrepancies: a new transaction that I did not initiate labelled ‘teller withdrawal’, my account going into overdraft and ‘the hold’ for merchant B was released but the sum in my account was far less than what I had deposited for the purchase. Merchant A payment was cleared.

I visited the RBL branch on Water Street and spoke with two managers. I mentioned to them that the ‘teller withdrawal’ was not my doing and the transaction took thousands of dollars from my account, leaving it short to cover payment to Merchant B that had already shipped my order, and the transaction would have to be honoured by the bank. Both seemed lost as to what could have occurred and offered no clarification or resolution except to say that there was a computer glitch, and it should resolve by itself that afternoon or over the weekend.

Suddenly, that afternoon the transaction listed as ‘teller withdrawal’ was relisted as a duplicate transaction for an item from my order from Merchant A and I noted another duplicate transaction for another item. When I enquired from RBL about this, I was told to contact Merchant A. Merchant A stated that there were no duplicate transactions on their end and that the total amount due for the order was exactly what was taken.

Then a second ‘teller withdrawal’ that I did not initiate occurred on Monday. All the funds that I had in the account which had nothing to do with my two purchases were taken, my account was put into overdraft by a few thousand, and I was charged an overdrawn account fee. The ‘teller withdrawal’ was then relisted as payment to merchant B.

Editor, I am not responsible, nor am I prepared to take responsibility for Republic Bank’s computer glitches, manual or system errors. Last week Tuesday and Wednesday, I transferred more than the required sums for my single purchase from Merchant A and my single purchase from Merchant B, respectively. The exchange rate did not change, and I had a positive balance available in my account while the purchase amounts were ‘on hold’. Both transactions were initiated by me for fixed sums, and these were approved by the bank; I have the records. They were one-off purchases and not recurring charges/ subscriptions. Whatever happened days after I completed my transactions is not my responsibility, but that of RBL. I did not authorise RBL to pay more than what was defined in my transaction with Merchant A, and I did not authorise RBL to take more money from my account to cover the payment to Merchant B.

RBL needs to take responsibility and accountability for its own errors and not blatantly pass the buck to its customers, who contribute to it remaining a profitable entity. How utterly disrespectful! RBL needs to take some of its massive profits and improve its systems and customer service.

I want Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited to put back all the money it took from my account without authorisation to cover its own sloppy service. This includes all funds that had nothing to do with my two transactions, including the overdrawn amount and fee. They need to check their records, my transactions and go search for the errors. When they find them, use some of their massive profits to fix them and desist from daylight robbery. Also, as a shareholder of the bank what sort of value are they creating for people like me when they offer terrible customer service, ignore complaints from the public about their poor offerings and refuse to improve their output in terms of service and performance while boasting of raking in billions in profit off the Guyanese public?

Yours faithfully,

Narissa Deokarran

UPDATE: The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission eventually addressed my matter and after a few months it was successfully resolved. Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited refunded the disputed amount and an employee graciously apologised for the issue. I am pleased with the outcome, will continue utilising this bank and hopefully measures will be put into place to minimise such problems.

The post Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited took money from my account without my authorisation appeared first on Life in Guyana.

Dear Editor,  

Continued victimisation by education officers from the DOE Region 4  

During the last academic term, I publicly complained (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/11/15/opinion/letters/my-letters-to-the-media-have-contributed-to-improvements-in-annandale-secondary-school-for-which-i-am-now-a-target/)  about being targeted by education officers from the Department of Education (DOE) Region 4 due to my writings via the newspapers about matters affecting my workplace. I’ve also written about other issues in the education sector such as the Atlantic Reader series, lack of foresight on making specific subject(s) compulsory when there are insufficient teachers for the area, and discrimination among other topics.  

My letters to the media on issues affecting the school, such as textbook and furniture shortage; and the need for curriculum changes have brought about the desired results. The improvements have benefited both students and teachers. However, before going to the media I approached the relevant stakeholders with my concerns but got nowhere. Last term, an education officer, Mr Loren Park, told me that whenever I write publicly, he has to compile a report on the matter which affects his schedule. From since then, I became aware of anonymous individuals making complaints against me to the headmaster (HM), Mr Mohamed Shakoor, which cannot be verified. Complaints were given over the phone or were hearsay at public forums. The HM even told me that Mr Park instructed him to give me a reprimand letter for an anonymous complaint without details or names.  I firmly stated it was grossly disrespectful to me to be approached with complaints and hearsay from unknown persons and with missing details.   

A few days later, a parent who did not identify himself to me and wearing a mask came unannounced to the school near the dismissal time when the substantive DHM and HM were not present. He stated that I caused his daughter’s anxiety ‘to raise’ when I told her to go to her seat and be quiet during an assessment in my class. I explained to him how I maintain class control and discipline with all my students. When the bell rang and he still couldn’t show me what I did wrong to his child, I indicated my desire to leave since I had another engagement to attend to. The parent then accused me of being unprofessional and said that he was recording me. I firmly stated that I did not give him permission to do so, sat down and spent a few more minutes explaining how I maintain class control, then I asked to be excused and left the premises. The parent had not shown me what I did wrong to his daughter and even threatened to report me to the Minister of Education and her team that were in the building conducting a ‘Math Intervention Event’. Since I felt I was in the right regarding my conduct with his daughter, I informed him that he was free to complain to whomever and I stated that I would not be bullied. The act of recording me without my permission was uncalled for and this was the first and only interaction between this man and me. Why should I have remained with a parent in the school building after the school dismissed and there was no need to prolong the conversation?  

The next day during a meeting to discuss the findings from the Math Invention, Mr Park accused me of ‘assaulting the child’. I wrote publicly about these officers’ behaviour (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/12/25/education-officers-should-visit-schools-to-not-only-berate-but-to-improve/). It was the first time this accusation was thrown at me and I felt greatly embarrassed since my colleagues and other education officers were present. When I tried to respond, I was accused of being insubordinate although no details were provided. Subsequently, a task sheet was issued to the HM; this was shared among all teachers. The HM was instructed by the DOE with deadlines given to give reprimand letters to some teachers, including me. In other words, the HM was told to put his signature on letters he would have otherwise not issued, is this ethical?  And I doubt the HM composed those letters. He told me that none of the printers in the school could print on long papers, yet the reprimand letters were on long papers! I was given a letter for insubordination and on the task sheet it was stated that the DOE will hold an inquiry and investigation into the allegation (made by the education officer) that I assaulted a child. I was never questioned by anyone regarding the matter nor did I receive a copy of whatever report was compiled.  

Despite refuting the allegations made against me in the public domain and through various letters addressed to the headteacher with copies sent to the DOE Region 4, MOE, GTU, School Boards Secretariat and the Board of Governors of Annandale Secondary School I am still being targeted and victimised by officers from the DOE Region 4, with their ludicrous accusations against me. Nobody responded to my letters, it appears as if we’re on opposing sides of the fence.  

Last week the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of Annadale Secondary School, Mrs Findlay-Williams issued a letter informing me that the DOE Region 4 has submitted recommendations for disciplinary action to be brought against me … I have been charged with being insubordinate to the HM and other supervisory staff during the Math Intervention meeting with the education officers. This charge is absurd. I never exchanged words with the HM nor my other colleagues during the meeting. I was accused of being ‘insubordinate’ by Edu. Officer Colwyn Delph when I attempted to respond to the baseless accusation of assault made by Mr Park in the presence of everyone. The HM and I have a good professional relationship, although we may not see eye to eye on certain matters. Furthermore, the DOE has not provided any evidence to substantiate this charge. I reserve the right to respond if faced with a serious allegation.   

The second charge is: Criminal matters which may require court proceedings:  

-Offence No. 26: Physical assault and abuse  

-Offence No. 27: Child abuse, specifically emotional abuse.   

On this second charge these officers took up the roles of police officers, judge and jury. Additionally, they are ‘charging’ me with a criminal act yet never questioned me about the matter or asked for a statement and they have not provided me with a copy of whatever report they conjured. And they did not explain or provide evidence to show how I physically assaulted the child. Did I beat or slap her? Does she have injuries? What exactly did I do to her?  If telling a child to be quiet and to go to her seat is abuse, then how are we, as teachers supposed to maintain class control, order and discipline in the classroom if we cannot issue simple instructions to students? The DOE needs to prove its case. Writing a few lines on a paper is something anyone can do. Furthermore, I should be accusing them of emotional abuse since they humiliated me in the presence of my colleagues with an allegation they threw out for the first time in a public space and did not show any evidence to back up. I can say someone assaulted me. Just because I said or wrote the words doesn’t make it true.   

The entire letter from the Chairperson is nonsensical at best and it is requested that I respond by January 24. What am I supposed to respond to? Besides, copies of my letters refuting the allegations were already dispatched to the chairperson in November 2024 (given to the HM for him to dispatch) and there exists no direct reporting channel between the board and me. Also, I question the role of the Annandale Secondary School Board, does it have locus standi to preside over disciplinary matters involving teachers?   

Editor, I am appealing directly to the Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education, Mr Saddam Hussain, to intervene in this matter and bring closure. It is my position that I am being targeted and victimised by education officers from the DOE Region 4. I am requesting that he conducts an impartial investigation, not only to bring an end to this witch-hunt but to allow me to resume teaching the child in question. It is unreasonable and unfair to expect me to be in the same space (classroom) with the child while an investigation is ongoing. Alternative arrangements should be made for the child or entire class during my scheduled periods (1hr and 10mins per week). I cannot go into a classroom and be fearful of the little boys and girls I teach. In order to deliver quality lessons, it is imperative that I create an environment conducive to learning and free from distractions. This requires order and discipline so that all can learn and not giving ‘special treatment’ to a few or allowing them to do as they please because of their ‘connections’. I also foresee an end to the anonymous complaints which cannot be verified if an impartial investigation is conducted by Mr Hussain. The new term just started and already I am being asked to respond to complaints given over the phone where the names of the parent, child nor class are given to me and details are missing.   

This experience has not dampened my spirits nor driven fear into me. I will not bend, instead I am more motivated to let my voice be heard. I did not sign a contract with anyone to give up my voice and be ‘beaten’ into silence.   

Editor, I believe that education officers (former teachers) should act more professionally, try to reach out to those ‘below’ them and offer greater support to the schools they are assigned to instead of engaging in childish and underhanded antics. It undermines their intelligence and could cause loss of respect towards them from their subordinates. Maybe then, more little issues can be solved internally rather than persons seeking a hearing from platforms such as the traditional and social media.  

Yours sincerely,  

Narissa Deokarran  

The situation now

I wrote to the Board of Governors requesting clarification on the ‘charges’ and asked several questions of my own. I received no response. However, I was invited to meet with them for a hearing. Basically, I was asked to defend myself against an assault charge, yet I was not informed of how I allegedly assaulted the child nor was I given a copy of the report which should have been compiled by the DOE – Region 4.

I participated in the hearing by stating what happened with the child and her father; and during the ‘Math Intervention meeting’ but still I wasn’t told by anyone there what I did wrong and to date I don’t know what I allegedly did so what exactly do they expect me to defend myself against? The only person who spoke was Loren Park. He said that there is evidence that contradicts what I stated, but I can’t see it because it’s from ‘children’ and he couldn’t sum up in one or two sentences what the evidence was. Is this situation logical or am I the illogical one? Did I hit, kick, slap, or beat up the child? Who knows…. only the DOE Region 4 apparently.

So, I was accused of assaulting a child by education officer Loren Park, who represents the DOE – Region 4, which is a part of the MOE, a state entity yet I haven’t been sent on Administrative Leave as yet which is the norm for such cases and another teacher has not been assigned to the class. I am being forced to be in the same space with a child (during my subject period) who I’m accused of assaulting while the ‘investigation’ is ongoing, is this normal procedure? 

 What I believe led to the present situation

I have been forced to write publicly about simple issues in the workplace and to get needed resources. Also, I have written about matters in the education sector on a general basis. On workplace matters, especially where I was directly affected, I’ve had to resort to the ‘Letter to the Editor’ section of the newspapers to get my opinion out. And I had to mention ‘directly affected’. I do not enjoy airing my personal issues in the public domain nor do I go look for matters to publicise just because I enjoy the drama or seek the attention. Nothing of the sort…I would much prefer being able to give my opinions/suggestions internally.

I don’t know if people see brown women as being frivolous, brainless beings but I’ve been treated this way more times than I can count. Sometimes, I do offer opinions that are logical/rational, but because it’s coming from me, a brown woman who is barely 5 feet tall, it’s like what I am saying is nonsense! For instance, during the height of COVID, when the students were at home, we were asked to report to the school to mark worksheets where the answers were already given to the students on the back of the booklets. So, a student who didn’t study at all could spend 5 minutes just writing in answers (already given) and get 100%! Even if it wasn’t during a pandemic, I would have refused to subject myself to such nonsense (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2021/01/26/the-ministry-of-educations-nonsensical-policy-on-worksheets/).

And another time (pandemic period) we had to report for duty at the school, yet there weren’t any children to teach for some teachers (lower school students). We basically had to sit all day on a chair doing nothing, exposing ourselves to the virus and increasing our chances of contracting it, all for nothing and those in charge didn’t see how illogical the situation was. I wrote about it ( https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/11/19/opinion/letters/current-measures-at-my-school-are-unhelpful-in-stopping-the-spread-of-covid-19/).

In recent times, I had to write about the lack of space for teachers to put their desks and chairs (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/02/09/opinion/letters/inadequate-space-and-furniture-for-teachers-at-annandale-secondary-school/). After my ‘Letter to the Editor’ was published, we were moved to more comfortable parts of the school and additional furniture was sent. However, two education officers, Gordon and Gulliver accompanied it and told me that I was bitter and a troublemaker (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2023/02/14/opinion/letters/i-do-hope-i-am-not-subjected-to-another-moe-ambush-masked-as-a-meeting/).

I feel that by highlighting little problems in the public domain, I’ve made myself a target, but I couldn’t help it because I was directly affected. For instance, just last year I had to write 3 times to the newspapers about matters which could have been fixed quietly. However, unlike previous times, I decided to place my name to my letters instead of writing anonymously:

• Several times, I tried to get Spanish textbooks for the students which the Book Distribution Unit had. I went through the usual procedures with the school’s admin but months later the books still hadn’t arrived. However, after writing about the matter, we got the books the next day (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/04/24/opinion/letters/annandale-secondary-school-needs-spanish-textbooks/).
• Then I had to write about the behaviour of a child and his parent. I will not accept disrespect from the little boys and girls I teach and I will not give preferential treatment to any child or be fearful of that child because his/her parent/relative may be someone with power and influence. This is my position and I will not change it (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/09/18/this-moe-employee-encouraged-disrespectful-behaviour-from-a-student-and-his-parent-at-annandale-secondary-school/).
• Then the final letter before the ‘complaints’ was about a teacher being timetabled yet hadn’t reported for duty for even one day since the term started. This teacher was not a part of the permanent staff and the subject being introduced in a particular grade depended on him reporting for work. When he didn’t show up, I was affected and the students were left unsupervised. After writing about the matter, the situation changed but before writing, I did broach the topic several times internally (https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/10/08/putting-the-cart-before-the-horse-on-the-curriculum-at-annandale-secondary-school/).

The education officers in the system

Many people with power and authority in administrative positions would boast about the fancy graduate degrees under their names and the professional management courses and training they undertook, yet when it comes to making sound decisions and resolving simple problems between individuals using established norms and protocols they suddenly become impotent. It’s like all their management training and promises to be fair, impartial, and good managers/administrators goes out the door. Suddenly, they don’t know what to do because their friend, acquaintance or someone from their own ethnic background is involved and they don’t want to go against this person even if they’re wrong. All one might be asked to do is apologise and/or receive a verbal reprimand yet that is too much to ask from some.

Imagine at my former workplace, Ann’s Grove Secondary the Headteacher, Cindy Cooper-Crandon refused to sign my Whitley Council Form, refused to give me a letter stating that I worked there for teacher’s training, refused to give me a class when I started training although I had a degree in the area and even tried to sabotage my training among other unprofessional acts yet the education officers didn’t address her conduct. They enabled and empowered her because they were grossly biased and refused to rein in someone they were friendly with. I am sure I wasn’t the only teacher who this HM terrorised.

The education officers I’ve encountered can’t deal with simple problems and because of their gross bias and/or inability to manage, they allow very trivial things to explode into gigantic messes. Take for example, me having to complain to the ERC to get a simple document which the edu. officers couldn’t instruct the HM to give me (https://lifeingy.com/is-the-ethnic-relations-commission-biased/ and https://lifeingy.com/the-ministry-of-education-guyana-condoned-discrimination-by-failing-to-act-fairly-and-decisively/). And after HGP Nightly News did a fake story about me, the edu officers including the then REDO, Tiffany Harvey and DEO, Loren Park instead of investigating the matter to find out whether it was true or not, sent me off to another school where I was treated as a temporary staff and this came with other issues. I was basically chased out of my workplace over a fake story when I sought professional advancement. I didn’t get to say goodbye to my students and due to the sendoff, the impression was given that I was guilty of whatever I was accused of. I even reached out publicly to the edu officers to investigate the issue because of the way I was treated in my new workplace, as a temporary staff and unwelcomed guest who, according to them they were asked to ‘babysit’ by the MOE, yet my public plea got no reaction (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2022/09/03/opinion/letters/after-being-in-the-education-system-for-over-a-decade-i-am-now-seen-as-a-temporary-teacher-with-less-privileges/).

These officers ignore the problems of teachers and refuse to treat them as valued employees but when one goes elsewhere with one’s problems, they are offended and seek payback through all sorts of childish and underhanded tactics. And it’s not even clever, one can see right through it.

What I think should happen

If the officers want teachers to go to them with their issues instead of airing them on public platforms, then they need to be more professional, approachable and fair. Treat all teachers regardless of position and ethnicity equally.

The Minister of Education and the CEO need to send them off for more training on how to be better managers, leaders, mediators and problem solvers. And they should take an additional course on fairness and impartiality.

Right now, I am waiting on the education officers from the DOE – Region 4 to carry out the PD/ training session they were required to do almost 2 years ago see the latter part of this letter, (https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/04/24/opinion/letters/annandale-secondary-school-needs-spanish-textbooks/). Instead of showing off on teachers and making accusations/allegations that they cannot back up, they need to engage in more meaningful activities with their time.

My position

I would truly respect a fair fight, a sound argument and someone showing me how I am wrong or what I did wrong by presenting a good case. What I cannot respect are underhanded tactics and mischief. It’s childish, low and crude. If I did something wrong and there is a fair and strong case against me, then I would respect that and take responsibility for my shortcomings.  Making allegations which one cannot back up or follow through on is just creating more messes and unpleasantness. I am still waiting (months now) for the other side to present its side of the story…

And, there is a consequence/reaction to everything. By making a serious allegation against me I should have been placed on leave or another teacher assigned to the class with the involved child, an independent investigation carried out, I be told of the what exactly I am being accused of (evidence from the other side) and be given the opportunity to respond/defend myself. Nothing of the sort has occurred thus far.

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Two individuals I’m acquainted with briefly commented on my letters, and what they said felt more like insults than observations/criticism. Both said that nobody would feel pity for me and one went further by saying that people would laugh at me. What I found insulting was the fact that these persons believe that I write about issues (personal and in general) publicly because I want people to pity or like me and care about whether they would laugh at me or not! It’s as if they believe that I am a superficial being who writes because I seek the approval and acceptance of others. They reduced me and I felt insulted. 

If I truly cared about what others think about me I would never open my mouth or pen a line publicly because as an Indo-Guyanese female, I am expected to be a silent, invisible, subservient person whose sole purpose in life is to make roti, cook curry, clean, be a willing victim of abuse and if capable of ‘thought’ use my intelligence to defend myself against accusations of engaging in immoral behaviour such as ‘liking’ men, talking to men and engaging in ‘wickedness’. This is the society I live in and what a ‘good’ Indian female is expected to be. Also, I have been surrounded my entire life by silent, submissive and invisible brown women.  

For me, writing is more than an act of rebellion, it is giving myself a voice and if I don’t do it for myself, I will remain just another silent, brown woman because nobody is going to ‘allow’ me to have a voice. And writing is also self-therapy particularly when I write about negative experiences. It’s like by putting on paper how I felt and what happened to me I’m releasing all those negative emotions and memories associated with the experience.  

I grew up and still live in an environment where I’m not allowed to speak. If something bothers me I’m expected to keep it bottled up inside and just carry on like normal and usually when I attempt to speak I’m shot down, criticised for speaking or ignored. And it’s not just a family thing, it’s the wider society. People just don’t know how to communicate and don’t want to listen either. Everything is superficial and yet, ever so often one reads about young people committing suicide and I am confronted by the mental health crisis in the country every time I go to Georgetown. Many persons suffering from mental illnesses roam the streets endangering themselves and others. I believe that people find themselves overwhelmed by problems with nobody to talk to and seek guidance from. People simply don’t care, actually enjoy seeing others suffer, judge them or don’t know how to have normal conversations about things that matter. 

For instance, I have a friend who calls me every day to chat and we often go out together. So we’d talk about a bunch of frivolous things: sales, neighbourhood gossip etc, yet every time I attempt to add more substance to a topic my friend would say that she needs to use the bathroom or has to do something else. For example, she mentioned a girl we know hooking up with an older man and drinking alcohol at a bar. I attempted to start a discussion on how these men prey on girls and thus deny them a normal childhood/young adulthood and that the girl should be exposed to more age-appropriate activities etc. She behaved as if I was boring her and that’s her usual reaction if the surface of any issue is prodded. Gossip, superficiality and that’s just it! No substance or going beneath the surface plus she doesn’t want to hear ‘negative’ news either like many others probably because the interaction would require greater emotional involvement and thinking.  

I find myself surrounded by superficiality; story of my life. Or maybe it’s just my perspective and not actually what is there, who knows… Yet I don’t believe I am seeing things entirely one-sided like that time when ‘everyone’ assumed that I attempted suicide yet nobody had the balls (for lack of a better word) to ask me what really happened (https://lifeingy.com/my-experience-with-bullying/). That would have required ‘too much’ involvement and emotions and there are many other examples to throw out. 

So I went off topic with my other ramblings but that’s just the direction the mind decided to take. Bottom line, I write for myself and I don’t give a rat’s behind about what others think. If I did, I wouldn’t be who I am and the only thing that can change me is death.  

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Narrative of the Media

It appears that the media is pushing the narrative both locally and internationally for many years now that only Afro-Guyanese face discrimination here and hence they contribute to making the ‘race problems’ worse. Since they have a ‘victim’ then there must be a villain and the most fitting choice is Indo-Guyanese given the historic tensions between these two groups. And as the villain one cannot be seen as a victim or be subjected to discrimination by other groups particularly Afro-Guyanese. I can find no other explanation for the blatantly biased position of the media; this is my opinion.  

The Print Media in Guyana 

There are four major newspapers in the country: The Guyana Chronicle, Guyana Times, Kaieteur News and Stabroek News.  The Guyana Chronicle is state owned and therefore aligned to whichever party is in government. Then there is the Guyana Times which is seen as a PPP/C party newspaper, it usually publishes positive news about the party and nothing much otherwise. And unto the two so-called independent newspapers: the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News. 

Ordinary people are given a voice 

The society in swathe in corruption, classism, discrimination and other detestable behaviours. Often, the common folk are silenced and left to fend for themselves when they encounter problems including very simple ones which can easily be solved. For instance, years ago my next-door neighbour started burning all the trash from his bar including Styrofoam utensils that release so many toxins into the air. At night, I had to wait until he finished burning (often early in the morning) to sleep because my room would be filled with smoke and almost every day I sneezed constantly. The neighbourhood and regional councillors; local government ministry and EPA couldn’t deal with this simple matter. I wrote about my ordeal on my blog: https://lifeingy.com/air-pollution-indifference-and-corruption/. After not getting any assistance from the relevant entities/persons I turned to the media.  The exposure through the media made the biggest impact but still the problem wasn’t completely resolved. However, I have given up on that. Here, you would find almost everyone knows about the dangers that come from smoking cigarettes yet many see garbage burning as normal and harmless.  

Nevertheless, the media (Stabroek News and Kaieteur News) helped me then and continued helping me throughout the years by publishing my letters on matters which affected me. Also, by giving me a voice on other issues in my environment and in the wider societal sphere. Other ordinary Guyanese are given the same opportunity to let their voices be heard and subsequently their problems may be addressed/resolved through media exposure.  

Discrimination against Indo-Guyanese is not seen as important 

While the media does give the ordinary Guyanese a platform that is free and considerably powerful to highlight their grievances and express their opinions it does have its own narrative that it pushes unto the public and international community especially in areas such as politics and race relations. 

I’ve sent many ‘Letters to the Editor’ over the years on a wide range of topics and the majority were published however, most of the time my letters on discrimination detailing my own experiences and how I’ve been affected are not. I work in the public sector and the majority of workers in the public sector are Afro-Guyanese therefore the likelihood of facing problems with a person(s) who happens to be Afro-Guyanese (not relevant to the problem) is very high. Yet, it seems from my own experiences that I can never get a fair hearing or even have my issues addressed in the first place if the person being complained about is Afro-Guyanese. I would have never even considered writing to the media if those people whose duty it is to address and resolve such problems (internally) had just listened to me and treated me fairly.  

I wrote on my blog about how poor management and leadership skills contribute to racial disunity and how I’ve been affected: https://lifeingy.com/the-ministry-of-education-guyana-condoned-discrimination-by-failing-to-act-fairly-and-decisively/. The newspapers would not publish a shorter version of this (minus all photos, some paragraphs and even further editing) although it shows how administrative staff at the Ministry of Education due to poor leadership and a prejudiced disposition condone discrimination and unprofessionalism by those they identify with or favour. The print media often publish long letters, it has even published such letters by me on other topics. 

Can’t complain about entities that are seen as Afro-Guyanese 

Due to my problems at work being ignored by the relevant education officers, the situation deteriorated to the point where a news entity, HGP Nightly News (an Afro-Guyanese owned station, a fact which may or may not be relevant) was used to broadcast a defamatory story about me. At the time, although I contacted the station after they broadcasted their biased piece, they did not allow my side to be aired. I wrote about the matter on my blog: https://lifeingy.com/hgp-nightly-news-broadcasted-one-sided-story-fake-protesters/. 

However, I tried to get my side out through the newspapers because I was slandered in front of my students, the community and thousands of people who viewed the news item. Since my side was never aired or a retraction done by HGP Nightly News, the story was presented as if true. I visited both Kaieteur News and Stabroek News and spoke with a female reporter at both places to get my story out but it was apparently seen as too trivial. The Kaieteur News reporter listened to me then said she would contact me but never did and the Stabroek News one wasn’t interested in the story but advised me to speak with an education officer or the union. Since, my previous letters to the union and DoE/MoE were never acknowledge this path was a dead-end. Needless to say, the newspapers often publish articles/letters on mundane matters so I found it hard to believe that my issue wasn’t at least interesting enough to warrant a few paragraphs on a back page. 

News stories and letters about discrimination or suggesting discrimination against other ethnic groups 

Regularly, one would find articles in the print media which suggest that other ethnic groups particularly Afro-Guyanese face discrimination. Most of these pieces are opinions and not the personal experiences of the writers however, that does not take away from the story. These views could be exactly what is happening but why can’t Indo-Guyanese be given the same opportunity to highlight their plight and give their views regarding discrimination against Indo-Guyanese? 

I can recall an Afro-Guyanese columnist, Akola Thompson complaining about discrimination against her by an (Afro-Guyanese) sales person and this story received a lot of media coverage: her story, store’s response, ERC probe, letters on the matter 1 & 2 and even more opinions were published on the matter. This could be ‘casual’ racism or poor customer service but the columnist felt greatly offended and was able to have her story published; why can’t the same consideration be given to ordinary Indo-Guyanese? From my own experiences, I have noted that poor and very poor to the point of being atrocious customer service is rampant in Guyana; it’s everywhere in this country and I’m sure people of all ethnicities have experienced this. I have also had to deal with countless instances of ‘casual’ racism, the sort that spoils my mood and maybe the day but does not affect the trajectory of my life. And unfortunately, I have experienced racism which has greatly affected the course of my life in terms of education, occupation and the path I find myself on yet as an Indo-Guyanese I wouldn’t get ‘justice’, a fair hearing or my views published.  

Just a few recent ‘Letters to the Editor’ outlining/suggesting discrimination against Afro-Guyanese: 

https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/07/28/whats-new-masquerading-african-guyanese/ 

https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/07/19/resist-contempt-for-the-rights-of-africans/ 

https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/07/16/respect-and-protect-african-emancipation-celebrations/ 

https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2024/08/12/freddie-attacked-me-because-i-exposed-the-inconvenient-truth-of-racism-that-the-world-knows-about/ 

https://www.stabroeknews.com/2024/07/19/opinion/letters/the-ppps-discriminatory-preoccupation-in-the-case-of-africans-represents-a-continuation-of-colonialisms-divide-and-rule-policy/ 

By doing an internet search one would find many many articles suggesting that Afro-Guyanese are facing discrimination but few by other groups although they are just as affected. What this does is give the impression to the international community that Indo-Guyanese are a favoured group, do not face discrimination but are possibly the ‘oppressors’. 

I personally feel that ‘Letters to the Editor’, articles and news stories suggesting that Indo-Guyanese face discrimination are deliberately suppressed. So, I wrote a blog piece and referenced a video by Little Rock Television, now the video is PRIVATE!

I wasn’t involved, the station did video(s) on protest actions in Berbice and now has made their own video private probably because it showed Indo-Guyanese being attacked. How cowardly, what does it say about the credibility of a ‘news entity’ which chooses to hide it’s own videos? Then HGP Nightly News did the same, it broadcasted a defamatory story about me using Afro-Guyanese protesters and since I called them out on their fake news they have now chosen to make their video private! This is the media in Guyana; lack of credibility and objectivity.  

Biased media create more problems 

By being biased the media adds to the racial tensions in the country. Most problems occur between individuals and not entire groups against each other. Also, in a multi-ethnic society problems tend to arise between individuals who happen to be of different ethnicities. The problems could be about discrimination, poor customer service, petty competition and jealousies etc., but by being biased the media worsens the already tense racial issues in the country. From individuals it spread to others. One becomes empowered and the other aggrieved; and the rift widens. 

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