"Regretfully, the initial approval last year to pay the 2010 cost of living adjustments was not preceded by the analysis of its financial feasibility that needed to be done as the budget 2012 was not yet up for discussion. Hence, the required financial evaluation that underpins this policy was not executed timely," stated the letter.
"Given this unfortunate sequence of events, the government wishes to honor its original commitment to pay the 2010 indexations. However, this will have to take place by means of a budgetary amendment. The necessary research to find the financial room to make this possible is currently taking place. This will take some time and we therefore cannot beforehand give an exact payout date," the letter states. "We will however keep you informed as we also acknowledge that timely discussions must be initiated about the continued feasibility of this manner of indexation."
President of the Windward Islands Teachers Union Claire Elshot told reporters on Thursday that the union needed concrete information so that they can adequately inform their membership. The WITU president said with regards to the evaluation issue, she is of the opinion that a delay tactic is being applied by government. Elshot said sooner or later the union and its members would have to take to the streets because it seems as though that is the only language the government understands. The intention of the union is to meet and to discuss the current issues they are facing.
In its letter to the union, the two ministers said the union in a letter to government dated January 11, 2012, made reference to a "promised" meeting between the Council of Ministers and the advisory body GOA. The ministers said while the Council is willing to entertain a meeting with the GOA, it has no official record showing that such a request had been made.