“We fear nothing” – GTU prepared for audit

“We fear nothing,” is what the General Secretary of the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) had to say in response to an anonymous request for an investigation into its finances.

Coretta McDonald told News Room that the GTU has no issue with its financial statements being examined by anyone.

“The GTU’s doors are always opened and teachers can come there at any time to peruse our books,” she stated.

The Auditor General of Guyana, Deodat Sharma received a request for a probe into alleged mismanagement of funds belonging to the GTU.

Sharma confirmed that a letter dated August 23, 2018, and signed by a “concerned teacher” was sent to his office but he has been unable to examine its contents.

In the letter seen by the News Room, the anonymous author said it is worrying that the GTU President Mark Lyte is reported to have said the Union’s dues cannot support strike relief payments.

Lyte was quoted as saying that in an article published in the Guyana Chronicle about a week ago.

However, at a press conference on Tuesday, the GTU President said the Union is prepared to compensate teachers as much as 50% of their salaries.

In the letter to the Auditor General, the “concerned teacher” contended that “it is necessary that your office intervenes to review the financial practices of the GTU…”