SURINAME-Teachers union urgently writes to the president regarding the critical issue of its members’ salaries not being paid.

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC—The Association of Teachers in Technical Education (BLTO) has written to President Chandrikapersad Santokhi seeking his intervention regarding teacher salaries.

“President, it is inhumane to allow many national servants, including several members of the BLTO, to pay for at least a month without a copper cent….We have proof that all necessary documents were submitted on time, “BLTO chairman René Bilkerdijk and Vice-Chairman Jenifer Ball wrote in their letter to Santokhi.

In their letter, BLTO said it disagreed with a government minister who said that the nonpayments were due to the fault of the public servants.

They claimed that the salaries of many government officials, including members of the BLTO, had been withheld, forcing them to wait another month for payment.

The BLTO said that it is calling Santokhi to devise alternate arrangements regarding the payment of salaries to its members, including the possibility of involving a banking institution.

They wrote to Santokhi on Monday, urging him to outline “what immediate steps you have taken,” adding, “We count on your immediate action.”