The Guyana Teachers Union is maintaining that the COVID-19 vaccine must remain VOLUNTARY and not made MANDATORY. The Guyana Teachers’ Union in a release to the press said it noted President Ali’s speech at a recent press conference where he attempted to cajole teachers to get vaccinated. The GTU has always supported free choice in taking any of the COVID-19 vaccines and will continue to do so. We will neither advise against nor enforce inoculation on our members. As a consequence of this being a new type of vaccine, the hesitancy expressed by many worldwide is understood.
Our teachers are no different since some of our members have reservations due to personal illness(es) and/or fear. We wish to see awareness campaigns that match the zeal of the vaccination drives to assure our members (and all Guyanese) during this trying time.
Further, the union believes that the vaccine must remain VOLUNTARY and not made MANDATORY, neither explicitly stated nor implicitly imposed. We urge all teachers and right-thinking Guyanese to resist any attempt by any individual, organization or body to subject you to a tyrannical decision, the decision is yours. Guyana must always be the land where rights and freedoms are respected.
Teachers! We will stand with you should there be any attempt to make vaccination mandatory for returning to the classroom, the Union said.