Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly says the cleaners grant cheques, which are distributed to denominational boards, have been prepared and are now being issued.
Responding to questions from Guardian Media yesterday, Gadsby-Dolly said, “The cheques are prepared. Boards are being called for collection.”
On Monday, denominational boards complained they were finding it difficult to pay salaries.
President of the Presbyterian Board of Education, Vickram Ramlal, said the grant had not been paid since June.
“This grant, which is normally paid every four months, was last paid in June (to cover the months of June, July and August). Usually, after the budget, boards receive the funding by the second week in November,” he said.
He added, “All denominational boards had to find money to pay October salaries and are worried about how they will pay November salaries. The Presbyterian Board needs approximately $900,000 each month to pay 200 cleaners in their 72 schools.”
Ramlal said the funding was part of an agreement between denominational boards and the Government, and it was unfair for such uncertainty to exist every time the grant was due.
“These are workers who need their money to meet their basic needs,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), Vijay Maharaj, said the board had to take a loan to pay its cleaners.
“The SDMS has 43 primary schools and five colleges. I am now talking to my lawyers because I need to know: if I am borrowing money from the bank to pay janitors, must I still pay NIS and health surcharge to the government coffers when they are not providing the funds they are supposed to under the Concordat?” he questioned.
Chairperson of the Association of Denominational Boards, Sharon Mangaroo, confirmed that the boards have been told they will receive the grant. She added that the boards will be holding a stakeholders’ meeting with the ministry on Friday.
