Tempers flare at JTA conference over lawsuit filed by former president

 

Tempers flared at the Jamaica Teachers' Association conference in Trelawny on Monday after sitting president Leighton Johnson commented on the lawsuit brought against the association by former president La Sonja Harrison.

 

Ms. Harrison filed a lawsuit to nullify the current three-year wage agreement with the government, claiming it breaches the JTA's constitution.

 

Commenting on the issue, JTA President Leighton Johnson, noted that the legal challenge is affecting the coffers of the association. 

 

"It would be remiss of me if I were not to say that we as an executive of the association are quite concerned with the actions where members sue the JTA, forcing us to expend funds from the association to defend. Litigation is a costly process, ladies and gentlemen," he said, adding that the funds to defend claims must come from members' contributions, which lessons the resources. 

 

But some members dismissed his view as inappropriate.

 

Among them was Principal of Belmont Academy Rayon Simpson, who expressed displeasure with the comment. 

 

"You mentioned that a member brought legal challenge to the association and that the association has retained counsel. Mr. President, I think it is grossly inappropriate at this juncture for a discussion to be had as to whether or not a legitimate member of the association should or should not bring legal action to an association if the individual feels that there is justice in the matter to be had."  

 

President designate Mark Malabver also urged caution concerning public utterances on the legal matter. 

 

"I'm going to urge you, Mr. President, to not proceed any further with the matter. It is in the Secretary General's report and as such that is what we ought to be accepting. Secondly, if it is that someone has brought a legal matter with respect to this, there is no need to seek to colour it in the way that it is being coloured, Mr. President. Because the matter is properly placed within the courts, let the courts decide on this matter," he asserted.    

 

A testy exchanged ensued after the JTA president insisted he was simply presenting the legal opinions sought from the association's attorneys.

 

But Mr. Malabver hit back, suggesting that the president's utterances were in fact his own opinion on the legal matter.

 

The JTA president then requested that Mr. Malabver's comment be stricken from the record, arguing that the member was "out of order" and "misleading the conference".