DIXON

There is still uncertainty whether there will be a smooth start to the new academic year on September 7, as delegates of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) are yet to decide whether to accept a modified government position on their outstanding payment dispute.

The proposal from Govern-ment was presented to teachers by Education Minister Andrew Holness at the JTA conference in Ocho Rios, St Ann, yesterday.

The nearly 300 delegates on Tuesday flatly rejected Government's initial proposal to pay the over $8 billion owed to teachers for the April 2007 to March 2008 period in three equal tranches, beginning April 2010 up to April 2012.

Payment proposal

Yesterday, Holness proposed that the majority of the outstanding amount be paid in the first year (2010) and the balance in equal payments, in 2011 and 2012, at an interest rate of five per cent per annum.

In response, as a first step, the JTA demanded that the proposal be made official by putting it in writing and be presented by Friday of this week.

"We have got a modified position from the minister but we would still want to get a full response in writing that we can hold the team accountable for, and we are hoping by Friday we would get a response," JTA president Michael Stewart later told The Gleaner.

'September to remember'

Until then, Stewart said, the threat still remains for a 'September to remember', a term used on Tuesday by immediate past president Doran Dixon to indicate a disruption to the new school year, come September.

"It means there could be possible disruption if we do not get something concrete from the ministry because we do understand the situation, and with the modified position, for the greater portion to be paid in the financial year 2010/11 and for interests to be paid on the remaining portion," said Stewart.

"I believe that our delegates would be able to look at it (the proposal) in a rational and objective manner with a view to saying yes," he added

It was a well-prepared Andrew Holness who turned up yesterday morning.

Addressing the delegates, Holness, while being firm regarding the Government's decision to pay the amount over a three-year period, said he knew the teachers deserved to be paid what was owed and said the Government intended to pay up.

Holness also said the proposal would have to be discussed with the Ministry of Finance.