Aside from candidate preferences, Facebook readers respond to the President-Elect election
ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann; May 27, 2026
A discussion has started on the North Coast Times Facebook page about the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s (JTA’s) upcoming elections for President-Elect. The person who wins those elections will be sworn in as President-Elect at the JTA’s Annual Conference in August and will become President of the JTA, with its more than 20,000 members, one year later, in August 2027.
On Sunday, May 24, the North Coast Times carried a post on its Facebook Page encouraging viewers to watch the first of two interviews with the candidates, on the Frankly Speaking Jamaica Podcast, aired live on Sundays at 4 p.m.
First up and interviewed was Dr Maureen Mullings Nelson, a senior lecturer and placement officer at the Mico University College.
The programme can be accessed at this link
Or by going to the Frankly Speaking Jamaica YouTube channel (Episode 211)
The other candidate, Dr Darien Henry, principal of Montego Bay Community College, will be interviewed on Sunday, May 31, also on the Frankly Speaking Jamaica Podcast, at 4 p.m.
Comments about who they favoured were expressed by several readers of the Facebook page. We will share some of the comments here, dealing with issues of the Presidency and the JTA:
Rosemarie Miller Brown is impressed by the candidates: “What a competition! They were both at Cumberland High School in managerial positions.”
Hilda Louise, referring to the president’s tenure, says, “Nothing much can be accomplished in one school year.”
Marvin Anderson says, “Every week we have a new JTA president smh.”
Prince Antoniel Randal believes principals should not represent teachers. “It’s high time we stop voting for principals to manage our affairs. They should join the principals’ association and leave teachers to lead the teachers’ association. I know some will say principals are teachers, but can a teacher who isn’t a principal be part of their principal’s association?”
Raphael Beckford suggests he is a teacher who will spoil his vote. “Principals lobbying for foot soldiers that doesn’t make sense to me…. It’s about them, not us… Will definitely be spoiling my ballot.”
Yvonne Kong-Hutchinson gives her own view about the post. “For me the JTA President is a public relations office. The individual with that ‘nack’ will be the best choice for me.”
Janice Cousins dismisses the JTA as a PNP garrison. “Pure cass cas and problems them have.”
Michael Al says, “It would be nice to have a non-political President of the JTA for a change.”
Wyatt Morgan questions the purpose and says
“The classroom gets worse by the minute.”
And there are others who just state their preference for one or the other of the candidates. Feel free to leave your views on the Facebook Page and watch the Podcast live on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
