Amidst the crisis between the Government and the Trade Unions, students of the St David Catholic Secondary School (SDCS) and many other secondary schools were out to protest. A quiet protest was held at the St David’s Catholic School grounds on Thursday around 9:30 am.

Since the Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) took strike actions, Thursday, November 22 made it ten days students were away from the classroom. One Form Five student who will be writing exams in May 2019, spoke of the agenda of the protest. “We came up with the idea because all of us has work to be done. The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) is in a couple of months and being away from the classroom is going to affect us badly, so we agreed to have a demonstration.” The young lady noted that the protest is not intended to show solidarity with teachers, but it’s just that they want to get back to the classroom.

Standing with the students, Junior Francis said that he is in solidarity with the teachers and students. “I stand in solidarity with the students given the unfortunate situation the authority has put us. I think it’s heartbreaking that we have to go through that and the people that we expect to be seeking our interest, they are not. But the struggle continues because we were born in the fight and we will live through the fight. I encourage the teachers to press on.”

He added, “give Caesar what is due to Caesar; it is well deserving to provide teachers with the 25% because teachers are the parent, they are caregivers. It’s fair to provide them with and a matter of fact it is fair to provide them with more.”

Meanwhile, Minister for Education Honorable Emmalin Pierre noted in a statement that opposition political activist is the mastermind influencing students to partake in the protest in the teacher’s interest. “It was brought to my attention that political activists, claiming to act on behalf of the unions, are seeking to influence students in many schools to participate in a series of protest actions conceivably in support of striking teachers. We appeal to parents to engage their children to ensure that they do not get caught up in this unprecedented attempt at partisan agitation. We have also taken note of the complaint of some parents who have reported that their children are being lured into activities without their consent and permission.”

She further stated that the Government is ready to continue the dialogue with the Grenada Union of Teachers and looks forward to their acceptance. “A negotiated settlement is in the interest of both teachers and students. It is the type of dialogue that opposition political activists are actively campaigning to discourage.”