Schools after Beryl-No easy task

It was heartening to hear the positive comment by the President of the Teachers Union Oswald Robinson, regarding the government’s handling of the post-Beryl rehabilitation programme, especially as it relates to education.

It is well known that relations between the government and the leadership of the Union have not always been on a “sweetheart” level, yet the Union has displayed maturity in congratulating the government for its handling of the situation and offering its support. At the same time, we note that the Union leader expressed disappointment that right on the eve of the reopening of schools, a momentous task in the circumstances, the Union has not been invited to participate in discussions and decisions relating to the reopening of schools. In any set of circumstances, this is inadvisable and counterproductive at the best, and can have very negative repercussions.

Surely, the Union’s views on such matters ought to be welcomed, even if always not in tune with government’s perspectives. It is not by chance that there is an old saying that “two heads are better than one”. The government has been faced with a herculean task to cope with the ravages of hurricane Beryl in the context of the reopening of schools. Many schools on the mainland were used as shelters for those discommoded by the storm.

It is an issue which not just the government, but the people of our country must take seriously with a view towards a long-term solution, but that is another matter. The new Minister of National Mobilization, Keisal Peters, has revealed the magnitude of the task. She disclosed that the size of the annual school grant programme has swollen to the extent that the beneficiaries now total 12,000, double the usual number.

In addition, the Prime Minister has said the estimated total expenditure on the school repair programme would now be four to five times the original sum. These are enormous challenges for a small country with limited resources. Unfortunately, too many of our people, including those most affected, do not always appreciate the level of sacrifice required to provide adequate assistance. It must require some level of understanding that optimum solutions are not always possible, and one cannot always get all that is desired. Perhaps the government itself has raised expectations unnecessarily during its handling of similar crises and too many people take the positive statements of the Prime Minister to indicate that “money is no problem”.

If we follow the affairs of state closely, we will realize that the bulk of the expenses involved in the 3Rs programme is being provided by loans. It is money which must be repaid out of public funds, adding to the debt which is already causing concern. Therefore, it is important that a greater level of understanding and compromise be displayed.

Hurricane Beryl was an “Act of Nature”, not an “Act of Ralph” and we all must take responsibility to accommodating ourselves to the new situation. All in all, despite expected shortcomings, which can be fixed, and our limitations, it is only fair to say that the effort so far has been remarkable. We must all do our bit, however, to make it even more effective and to remember that we are still in the midst of the hurricane season. Vigilance and constant preparation must be our watchwords.