It was Friday afternoon 15 September, the new school year hadn’t fully started in earnest, but the Teachers of the Elmore Stoutt High School were on strike; or in their own words ‘a sit in protest’. 

Was it a long time coming? Yes, according to Educator and President of the BVI Teachers Union Sean Henry. 

The Premier Natalio Wheatley who rushed to the school to understand the reason for the protest, urged the Teachers to put their grievances in a letter and send to him for review. But are the Teachers’ concerns new to the Premier who had not one year earlier been the Minister responsible for Education for the period 2019 - 2022? 

The grievances of the educators were mostly basic needs such as maintenance of the school which included mold in the ac, uncut grass, necessary supplies to teach and unbearably hot classrooms. 

Guavaberry Media understands lack of funds to be the issue in the matter. 

The Joyce Samuels Primary School also suffered a delay in the start of school due to a timely release of funds to have the school readied for the students return. The school reopened one week late. 

At the end of June, the Premier hosted a $250,000 party to celebrate the AA’s non stop flight to the Virgin Islands and gave the Festival & Fairs Committee a whopping $1.1 million dollars to host festival. 

During the protest, one Educator called on the Premier for ‘non stop blessings’ for the Teachers.

The Minister for the subject Honourable Sharie DeCastro was out of the Territory on official travel to the UK.

The Territory continues to question the readiness of the Premier to lead.