Not my call

Mary Redman speaking to the Press for the first time since the Commission of Inquiry was announced by the Prime Minister last Thursday. (Picture by Sharon Harding.)

By Tony Best and Yvette Best | Tue, April 24, 2012 - 12:12 AM

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart last night said any decision to send embattled Alexandra School principal Jeff Broomes on special leave was simply not his to make but that of Chief Personnel Officer Gail Atkins.

He was responding to a comment from president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), Mary Redman, following his announcement last Thursday that a Commission of Inquiry, led by Justice Frederick Waterman, would be launched at the school.

At a Press briefing yesterday, Redman revealed that in keeping with best practice and following the union’s discussions with the Prime Minister, the expectation was that “the principal of that institution will be sent on leave with full pay when the warrant establishing said commission is issued”.

However, Stuart, who is currently in Washington for a series of meetings, told the DAILY NATION it was not something he could do as Prime Minister, even though he acknowledged there was precedent for it.

Read the full story in today's DAILY NATION.

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Posted by Payel Garcia 1 year, 1 month ago: This Alexander fiasco seems to have been cleverly thought out by the BSTU since the commission of inquiry, just like the old dated court system in Barbados would take more than 6 months to produce their report. Sending Broomes on leave would ensure they won't have to deal with him next school year.
I have to give Redman her papers for that brilliant move. I hope the Physics teachers remember Newton's law because it will certainly apply because Broomes is no fool.