Kakata, Margibi County – The Booker Washington Institute Workers Union (BOWIWU) has announced a go-slow action beginning Thursday, June 13, in demand of President George Manneh Weah final determination on the dismissal of the institute’s Principal, Harris Fumba Tarnue.
The Ministry of Education in a letter dated May 16, 2019, noted that the decision to dismiss Mr. Tarnue was triggered by the institution’s Board of Governors’ resolution declaring a unanimous vote of no-confidence in his leadership.
Earlier, the Board of Governors submitted a formal complaint against Mr. Tarnue to the Ministry alleging several counts including nepotism, administrative improprieties and gross disrespect to the Board.
But the BWI Workers Union, in a release issued on Tuesday, June 11, indicated that the “handful of likeminded board members” and Education Minister Ansu D. Sonii’s actions have left the institute in a state of confusion, thus affecting the smooth operation of the school.
“BOWIWU is fully aware that the Minister of Education does not have the legal authority to suspend or dismiss a principal of Booker Washington Institute and that said action contravenes the Act creating BWI. The appointment of an Acting Principal by the Minister of Education is a gross violation of the BWI Charter, something that should be done by the President of the Republic of Liberia,” the release noted.
The Union alleged that some of the members of the Board of Governors passed a “secret resolution” outside a regular board meeting which the Minister of Education based his judgment to single-handedly fired Atty. Tarnue.
BOWIWU release, signed by its president Foday K. Rogers and Konah V. Johnson, Chairperson of the union’s Board of Trustee, disclosed that about 311 union memberships recounted the achievements of Atty. Tarnue as Principal of BWI.
They expressed “full confidence” in the leadership of the dismissed principal through a communication submitted to the President of Liberia in May 2019.
The Union says the pending go slow action was reached through a unanimous vote by its membership on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, during a general assembly and their action shall remain in force until the President Weah makes a final determination on the matter.
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