Denominational boards want $$

Denominational Boards of Education are claiming they have not received financial allocations for several months. These ancillary grants are used to pay cleaners at primary schools under the purview of the various denominational boards.

The Newsday was told that the boards are pleading with either Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly or Finance Minister Colm Imbert to pay the grants.

Members of the boards told the Newsday this grant is usually paid every four months. They said the last time payment was made was in June with two payments remaining outstanding.

“This payment in June was only made after we literally had to beseech the Ministry of Education for the funds,” chairman of the Presbyterian Primary Schools board Vickram Ramlal said on November 22.

He said that usually after the budget is read, board members get funding by the second week in November.

No monies have been received to date and efforts to get an undertaking from the ministry have borne no results.

“All denominational boards had to find money to pay October salaries and are now in a quandary as to how they will pay November salaries,” Ramlal said.

He said his board requires approximately $900,000 each month to pay its 200-plus cleaners who operate in 72 primary schools under the control of the Presbyterian Board.

“In October we had to find that amount to pay the cleaners and I am not sure what will happen this month.”

He said this funding is an agreement between denominational boards and Government and found it unfair for such uncertainty to exist every time the grant is due. “Workers need their money to meet their basic needs, especially around Christmas time.”

Messages sent to Gadsby-Dolly on November 22 for her response went unanswered.