The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers’ Union (SVGTU) has raised serious concerns regarding the decision by the Ministry of Education to reopen most schools following recent severe weather, citing widespread water outages, landslide risks, and a lack of stakeholder consultation.
In a statement addressing the adverse weather conditions, the SVGTU expressed sadness over the impact on local communities while noting relief that no lives were lost. The union publicly thanked frontline personnel—including teams from the Central Water and Sewerage Authority (CWSA), BRAGSA, healthcare workers, and community volunteers—for working to restore order and essential services across the country.
Despite acknowledging the importance of instructional time, the SVGTU appealed to the Ministry of Education, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), and relevant authorities to urgently address three primary hazards before resuming classes:
Water Supply Crisis: Numerous homes and educational institutions lack reliable pipe-borne water, threatening basic sanitation and hygiene. The union highlighted that the shutdown of the Majorca water system affects roughly 40% of the island, questioning whether open facilities have functional water tanks and access to safe drinking water.
Landslide Hazards and Road Safety: Saturated soil conditions across the island present ongoing landslide risks for students, teachers, and parents commuting along rural and hillside routes.
Occupational Health and Safety: The union emphasized that the safety of students, educators, and ancillary staff must remain paramount, calling for thorough assessments of school facilities and roadways prior to reopening.
The SVGTU criticized the Ministry of Education, Technical Vocation, Digital Transformation and Information for what it termed a systemic failure to consult effectively with key stakeholders prior to announcing school reopenings.
The union reaffirmed its readiness to support education officials to ensure a safe return to classrooms once hygienic conditions, structural assessments, and safe water supplies are guaranteed.
