Friends at odds

(Lennox Devonish)

By Barry Alleyne | Thu, July 12, 2012 - 12:11 AM

ALL EARS! Alexandra School chairman Keith Simmons (left) listening intently to a point being made by principal Jeff Broomes (right) as Broomes’ attorney Vernon Smith listens during a break in yesterday’s sitting of the Commission of Inquiry.

When Keith Simmons was reappointed chairman of Alexandra School in 2008, he thought it would have been an easy task.

That was because his personal friend Jeff Broomes was the principal.

Three years later, that friendship had deteriorated, and Simmons was on the verge of resigning because of the “my way or the highway” attitude of Broomes.

This was brought to light by Simmons yesterday as he began what is expected to be a marathon testimony at the Commission of Inquiry into the reasons that led to industrial action at the school earlier this year.

Please read the full story in today’s DAILY NATION, or in the eNATION edition.

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Posted by Pan Wallie 10 months, 1 week ago: Here we go again! Mr Simmons admits that he thought his tenure as Chairman would have been easy (sweet is my word) because he and the Principal were friends. See what I mean about business and friendship. LOL. See where a refusal to accept / lack of understanding of constructive criticism has landed a bright man? This unnecessary limelight is to pricey for students and taxpayers in this country. This money (that we don't have could have been better spent. This inquiry is slow moving like a Bajan replica of Days of our Lives, and no doubt the summer holiday will end before it is concluded, then of course the Commission has to deliberate. So pray tell, does the next school year at Alexandra school continue with the same confusion? The summer holiday might have been better spent putting new plans for the school in place including some transfers. If I can say it without being eaten up the meat they needed have already been produced, but I suppose we want the juicy sauce that comes with the meal.

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Posted by wayne husbands 10 months, 1 week ago: WELL SAID @pan wallie..... what friendship has to do with the operational approach to doing a job?

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Posted by wayne husbands 10 months, 1 week ago: i dont know why we are spending all this money, i dont live in barbados,and i mentioned most of the things being revealed in this inquiry ,by following the facts of this case..there's an international epidemic of UNION BUSTING and that is the reason why we are facing this crisis. unless or until workers rights are recognized and we are allowed to do our jobs with dignity and respect, we will resist. and the choice is between fairness to the workers, or freeness to the lawyers... the money spent here could/should be used to create a few jobs for the unemployed..