Dismay at Education Ministry's 'revolving door'
By Matthew Taylor
Bermuda Union of Teachers leader Mike Charles reacted with shock last night to the removal of Randy Horton and lamented the revolving door of Education Ministers was continuing to disrupt progress.
Mr. Charles said: "The problem here is I have lost count of the amount of Ministers so what does that do for little Johnny in the classroom?
"How does the constant change of Ministers bode for reform? It's baffling – by the time you have got used to one person they are gone. It is rather unsettling.
"If it is unsettling to us who don't deal with the Ministry on a day-to-day basis then how is it for those who work at the Ministry?
The axing had shocked Mr. Charles. He said: "There was no indication there was going to be a shuffle or anything of that sort. I was pretty surprised.
"We had a meeting with the Minister yesterday and he indicated that he wanted to meet with the president and myself on a monthly basis."
Asked about Mr. Horton's performance as a Minister Mr. Charles said: "These are unsettled times in education and it is very difficult to judge anyone in Education right now, simply because there are too many things going on, so many initiatives.
"It is very difficult to judge. Right now, nobody has made a mark on anything.
"It seems like decisions are being made by consultants rather than anyone who has anything to do with education on the island.
"So talk about any Minister having any effect on education is rather a moot point. We don't know who is having an effect on education right now, probably not anybody locally."
Mulling the shock move, which many see as a sacking, one PLP backbencher said: "One issue is the Premier is a man who always wants to move faster but I am not sure if education can move much faster.
"Historically it's one of those Ministries that breaks Ministers."
Of the PLP Education Ministers only Paula Cox has prospered politically since moving on.
And the source said two years was not long enough to judge a Minister in that portfolio.
"You won't see the changes for another six or seven years. It is harsh. We change too many Ministers, you can't get results.
"I think Dr. Brown is the only one who has stayed in the same Ministry."
The backbencher suggested if Dr. Brown wanted better results he should consider taking Education himself.
Last night United Bermuda Party Senator Jeanne Atherden said the dumping of Mr. Horton from the Cabinet was an unfortunate example of political infighting becoming more important than the public good.
She added: "That Dr. Brown provided no explanation for dismissing Mr. Horton lends credence to press reports and rumour that he has got rid of a rival power.
"That he did so when Mr. Horton was in the midst of complex education reforms says the Premier's priorities are Dr. Brown first, public education second."
Sen. Atherden said the fact that El James is the seventh Education Minister since the PLP came to power was a reminder that Government has never kept a steady hand on the wheel of such a vital Ministry.
"We also note that Mr. James departure from Environment came just hours after he appeared in the press saying he would 'fight for Southlands Park'.
"We consider this a reminder of the Government's empty commitment to preserving, protecting and working for a sustainable environmental plan for the Island."
