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Hon de Castro told to not answer question about teachers’ strike @ Rotary meeting

- Reporter Zan Lewis told ‘This is not ZBVI’
Mr Zan Lewis, left, jumped on the opportunity at a Rotary meeting on Thursday, September 21, 2023, to ask Guest Speaker and Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL), right, a question about the protest action by teachers of Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) last week. Photo: GIS/Facebook/File
Hon Sharie B. de Castro was in London on official government business when teachers of Elmore Stoutt High School staged a ‘sit-in’ protest on September 15, 2023. Photo: VINO
Hon Sharie B. de Castro was in London on official government business when teachers of Elmore Stoutt High School staged a ‘sit-in’ protest on September 15, 2023. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- ZBVI Radio reporter Zan Lewis, known for his blunt and hard-hitting questions at press conferences has been missing from the local media scene of late; however, he showed up at the Rotary Club of Central Tortola’s meeting at Bamboushay Restaurant and Lounge in Road Town yesterday, Thursday, September 21, 2023.

Mr Lewis, who was attending the meeting as a guest, also jumped on the opportunity to ask Guest Speaker and Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) a question about the protest action by teachers of Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) last week.

Hon de Castro was in London on official government business at the time of the strike.

“Minister, Good evening, as you move full S.T.E.A.M. ahead working along with teachers and students to make sure they are comfortable in the classroom, were you aware of the concerns expressed by the teachers at the Elmore Stoutt High School when they took the protest action?” the reporter asked.

‘This is Rotary, this is not ZBVI’

Mr Lewis was; however, promptly reminded the event was of Rotary and Hon de Castro was also asked by Chairperson of the proceedings Rotarian Claude O. Skelton-Cline to not answer the question and she obliged.

“So we not going to let you ask that question. Honourable Minister, not tonight. This is Rotary, this is not ZBVI,” Mr Skelton-Cline stated.

Following a sit-in protest by the teachers on September 15, 2023, over working conditions, including classrooms without air conditioning and proper ventilation, Pemier and Minister of Finance, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) met with the aggrieved teachers to hear their concerns and shared plans to have the issues resolved expeditiously.

Dr Wheatley had also asked the teachers to put their grievances in writing and promised to “make my best efforts in having those issues resolved in combination with the ministry and in combination with the administration.”

30 Responses to “Hon de Castro told to not answer question about teachers’ strike @ Rotary meeting”

  • Well (22/09/2023, 13:18) Like (21) Dislike (5) Reply
    I can't believe I'm thinking this but I actually agree with CSC. If it was a standard Rotary meeting and she was not there in her official capacity as a minister (which not discussing the name of your profession can be one of the rules during the meeting), then there is no call to get grilled like that. Time and place.

    That having been said, if it was outside those parameters, then fire away. She deserves the heat.
    • Sara (22/09/2023, 15:39) Like (33) Dislike (6) Reply
      She was there in her capacity as the Minister of Education NOT as a private citizen...
  • … (22/09/2023, 13:18) Like (7) Dislike (10) Reply
    Funny man sent him
  • CSC (22/09/2023, 14:21) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
    AT LEAST ( THAT ) QUESTION COULD OF BEEN ANSWERED AS IT CONCERNS THE PEOPLE OF THE BVI , BUT MR FRIG , BLOCKING THE TRUTH AND THE CHILD WAS RELIEVED THAT HIS HOLINESS CAME TO HER RESCUE , BUT A GUILTY CONSCIENCE NEEDS NO ACCUSER / HONESTLY SPEAKING AND TRANSPARENCY SHOULD GO HAND IN HAND , THIS AINT VICTORIA'S SECRETS , ( THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORKED HONESTLY TO MAKE A LIVING , THEIR LIVES ARE BEING AFFECTED )
  • Vincie too. (22/09/2023, 14:54) Like (16) Dislike (14) Reply
    I'm not a CSC fan but will have to agree with him on this one. As much as I support Zan in asking the hard questions that was not the time and place.
    • Lord 0. (22/09/2023, 16:05) Like (24) Dislike (4) Reply
      Why CSC thinks he can control everybody and everything. Why are they so afraid of Zan. She should have declined CSC request and answer the question as a professional, as the minister and as a public figure. She could have even laugh it off and use reverse psychology OK Zan just this one. Ok. U agree.
      • VOTER6BVI (22/09/2023, 17:37) Like (1) Dislike (22) Reply
        NO ONE IS AFRAID OF ZAN BUT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND HE IS A STRONG NDP AND WITH THAT HE WILL ASK QUESTIONS TO MAKE NDP LOOK GOOD. THANK GOD NDP IS DEAD AND DON'T TALK ABOUT THE LEADER.
  • truth be told (22/09/2023, 15:58) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    well i guest he will ask her himself on honestly speaking his show
  • Hmmmm (22/09/2023, 16:01) Like (31) Dislike (6) Reply
    Ayo keep trying to protect and shelter that rude a@$ disrespectful Minister but she has to face the real music of the people at some time.
  • lol (22/09/2023, 16:03) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    The street knows Myron fully control that guy. However he was in the wrong place with the right questions. He will get his day in the sun because truth be told the young lady has a lot to answer.
  • People (22/09/2023, 16:05) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
    People please stay away from that user and opportunist CSC. That guy has loss his way. He needs Jesus..the real One.
  • vg youth (22/09/2023, 16:08) Like (12) Dislike (8) Reply
    I am definitely not a deCastro fan as she seem to be a quiet deadly arrogant cut throat person. However it is clear someone in the group set her up with Zan's pressence.
  • oh boy (22/09/2023, 16:11) Like (35) Dislike (3) Reply
    Zan is wrong but this Minister ensures she only do public appearances where you do not have or get access to her so she can always speak eloquently and then leave and avoid the people. Most people are on to her tactics so she better make the necessary adjustments before it is too late.
  • bbc (22/09/2023, 16:13) Like (5) Dislike (14) Reply
    Lewis can not have that much chat in st vincent
  • what a thing (22/09/2023, 16:13) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    What? CSC is still around. Look where he is now and the position he has in the group. This guy is bad news so don't take any chances with him. He bullies his way on persons but it is only for his own personal interest.
  • next time (22/09/2023, 16:15) Like (68) Dislike (4) Reply
    She used we the teachers for the numbers to get re-elected but not again.
  • Kermit the Frog (22/09/2023, 16:17) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    The airport had to be closed why she isn't in a plane flying going somewhere to another useless conference far far far away. Any way her close family & friends will be coming after me with this post so let me run along and go back to sipping my tea.
  • Former Teacher (22/09/2023, 16:20) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    She can false impress & hide all she wants but to me the best two Ministers of Education were Myron and Fahie. If it was them in that same situation they would have found an appropriate answer to the question and not hide behind CSC. They would not have missed a beat.
  • teacher john (22/09/2023, 16:21) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Building consensus means that we listen to one another, attempt to understand different perspectives and see what we can do to meet in the middle. It doesn’t mean that we get our own way on everything that we want.
  • way to go (22/09/2023, 16:23) Like (3) Dislike (14) Reply
    All I know is shorn has the best Roatry club in the bvi and that’s a fact
  • asura (22/09/2023, 16:37) Like (7) Dislike (16) Reply
    ZAN IS OUT OF ORDER BUT WHO CARES?
  • cnn (22/09/2023, 16:48) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    Based on an interviewer question is was not the time or place!!!
  • @Well (22/09/2023, 17:20) Like (23) Dislike (4) Reply
    The Minister as a guest speaker is on official duty, any thing she says will make the news. He had a right to ask question. CSC was wrong. If she cant be asked questions, then she should stay in the privacy of her home. She cant pick and choose what questions to answer, and she showed she was a weak leader by doing what CSC suggested. She needed to tell CSC she is the Minister and she not afraid to respond, as it is customary in this setting to ask the guest speaker a question, or for the audience to make comments.
    • Britain watching. (23/09/2023, 07:57) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      If he is seeking another neighbor hood young people saviour contract both he and the minister/s better know that the Gov Britain is watching them closely..His 2 cases port project and neighbor hood project are still pending and under review..
      • @Britain watching. (23/09/2023, 15:08) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        I am always amazed how some of you speak of Britan as the only sinless people of integrity on earth. Also, the Minister does not have anything to do with CSC. It is your beloved the Rotary. Last, tell your beloved Britan go check the last Governors' bank accounts and go get back our $8mill from that plane heist because we know why they are not touching it. Just how they are watching us, we are watching them.
  • BOTTOM LINE (22/09/2023, 20:20) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    This young lady has potential but no guidance. She continues to give the impression she does not love nor respect people and don't want them to bother her. She will deal with you only when it suits her. She has to adjust this attitude.
    • after (23/09/2023, 13:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Just seen it too many times before. Hunger Games politician style.
  • @ VOYER6BVI (23/09/2023, 17:04) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    YOU TALKING SH*T , ITS NOT ABOUT ( ZAN ) ITS ALL ABOUT COMUNICATING WITH THE PEOPLE WHO PUT HER THERE , DONT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THE TRUTH ? ZAN WASN'T ASKING HER , HER PERSONAL BUSINESS , AND IF THOSE HYPOCRITES WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON THEIR COUNTRY , THEY WOULDN'T JUMP ON ( ZAN ) AND I WONDER WHAT WAS SO PAINFUL ABOUT THAT QUESTION , THAT THE CITY SLICKER HAD TO BLOCK THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KNOW TO KNOW THE TRUTH , BUT THEN AGAIN IT EXPOSED THE LACK OF RESPECT BY BOTH OF THEM FOR THE PEOPLE ( MAYBE HE'S TEACHING HER THE MICHAEL JACKSON'S MOON WALK / REMEMBER BOTH OF THEM SAT IN THE ROAD WITH THEIR FAKE PROTEST AND WE ALL KNOW WAS A PUBLICITY STUNT , SO SHE'S UNDER THE CHARM OF ONE OF HIS HIDDEN TALENTS , SOMEBODY TAKING SOMEBODY TO SCHOOL / BECARFUL GIRL


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