Support for fired UTT lecturer

Anthropologist Dr Kumar Mahabir was one of eleven (11) lecturers who were fired from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) for no rational, justifiable or transparent reason. He was apparently handpicked for dismissal by the administrator, Dr Judy Rocke, among a faculty of 107 lecturers, almost all of whom work on 3-year-term contracts. At the dismissal meeting on Friday May 11, 2018, Rocke gave the assembled 11 lecturers her own personal, paradoxical reasons for their dismissal that were contradictory to that of the university’s regulations/policy. The dismissal letters stated that eleven lecturers were being dismissed “by reason of redundancy” and “surplus” services as part of the university’s “restructuring exercise.”

In keeping with good industrial relations, Rocke failed to adhere to the following due process procedures before dismissal: (i) consultation with the affected employee, (ii) prior notice of dismissal, (iii) presentation of evidence by the employer, (iv) an opportunity for the employee to respond, (v) representation of the employee by an attorney, (vi) notice of dismissal, (vii) a right to appeal, and (viii) a right to judicial review.

Mahabir’s latest PMAP staff appraisal score was 95 out of 100, validated by Rocke herself!

On hearing the shocking news, scores of local, regional and international academics rushed to offer sympathy and support for this distinguished researcher, writer and scholar.

Here are just three examples:

Dear Kumar, 

I am very sorry to hear about this. In a country and in a region where access to tertiary education is far below the most highly developed countries, this is a very short-sighted policy. It must also be hurtful and devastating to you personally for your contribution to the development of your country to be undervalued in this way. 

I am sure I speak for every one of the [CXC History] Task Force when I say that we are thinking of you in this difficult situation and wishing you the best.

Sincerely,

Alan

Kumar,

As I said to Brinsley [Samaroo] when I heard you’d been retrenched, you are clearly a very prolific scholar in terms of publications and conferences, you do a lot of “community” work too, so while I didn’t know about your teaching, it was very hard for me to understand on what criteria you could be selected as one of the first group to go. I hope you do get your day in court…

Regards,

Bridget

I recognize that you are a writer and fighter not only for yourself but also for others. The world needs more Kumars!

UTT has runs counter to best practices method in financial management that has made lecturers’ and non-academic staff a casualty in the process.

Regards,

Tara