PHILIPSBURG:--- The Windward Islands Teachers’ Union (WITU) has formally requested urgent clarification from the Honorable Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms. Melissa Gumbs, regarding the implementation of several financial measures affecting education personnel in subsidized schools.
In a letter sent to the Minister today, WITU President Roxsana Pantophlet raised deep concerns about the Ministry's lack of communication concerning the 2 percent cost-of-living indexation (retroactive to January 2025), salary scale adjustments scheduled for June 2025, the 8 percent vacation allowance, and the status of jubilee payments.
To date, only the vacation allowance has been formally communicated to school boards.
“This silence is both unacceptable and disheartening,” Pantophlet stated. “Despite public assurances from the Minister of Finance that these payments are fully funded in the 2025 national budget and are not restricted by any budgetary constraints, the Ministry of ECYS has yet to
provide school boards with the necessary directives to implement these critical financial adjustments.”
WITU emphasized that these benefits must be extended to all education personnel in subsidized schools, not just teachers but also administrative, support, and maintenance staff. The Union expressed concern over the repeated use of the term “teachers” in official discourse, warning that this language marginalizes a significant segment of dedicated school employees.
The Union also addressed the issue of jubilee payments, noting that the legal basis for these recognitions has already been formalized by National Decree AB 2025 No. 17, as confirmed by the Minister of Finance. Since there are no budgetary obstacles and other ministries have been instructed to proceed accordingly, the Ministry of ECYS should have likewise issued instructions to school boards to ensure the timely execution of these payments to eligible personnel in subsidized schools.
WITU has requested that the Ministry of ECYS provide written clarification by June 5, 2025, and has called for the matter to be placed on the agenda for urgent dialogue with the Union and school boards in the coming weeks.
“Our members serve with dedication and professionalism,” Pantophlet concluded. “They are not second-class employees and must be treated with the same fairness, transparency, and respect as their civil service counterparts.”
Roxsana Pantophlet
President, Windward Islands Teachers’ Union (WITU)
