The decision of the Aishalton village council to seek the removal of Mathe-matics teacher John Adams from the Deep South Rupununi community has divided residents, with some condemning the move as politically-motivated.

“I do not support the position that is being taken by the village council,” former village Toshao Tony James told Stabroek News on Wednesday.

Already a petition containing several allegations against Adams is being circulated.

“It is wrong for the community of Aishalton to be mentioned as supporting the decision,” he added. “Everybody know this is politically-driven. There are a lot of people who did not agree, who did not attend the meeting. It has been politically-motivated. I don’t think there was a proper discussion,” James added.

Aishalton village councillor Regis James had told Stabroek News on Tuesday that a petition was being done to have Adams – who has claimed that he was slapped by a presidential guard during a public meeting with President Donald Ramotar on December 3 last year – transferred because he had “shamed” the village. “We do not appreciate this type of behaviour in our community… he has put our village in the media and the public agree that he be transferred,” councillor James had said.

John Adams

However, according to a petition that was being circulated, some want Adams transferred because of “other behaviours” which were not specified. The petition is dated January 5, 2015. A letter by the village council, dated the same day, confirmed Adams had been slapped.

Former Toshao James also disputed a claim by councillor James that over 130 persons had approved of the decision. While acknowledging that he did not attend the village meeting, he said he was informed that as the day wore on, the number of persons in attendance dwindled and when the matter was brought up, between 60 and 80 persons were present and only a few persons spoke on the issue. “The people who actually made the decision are party supporters and [were] encouraged by a high regional official who was there,” he said, while adding that the PPP coordinator who spoke on the issue had a longstanding problem with Adams. “It’s entirely a personal vendetta they have against this man,” he said.

The former Toshao also said the matter should have been put to a vote. He noted there was no consensus and there are over 400 voting people in the village. He also noted that not many people knew of the widespread coverage of the incident in the national media and there were a number of persons who object to the action being taken by the village council.

Meanwhile, the petition being circulated says that the undersigned concerned villagers wish to bring to the media and the authorities “a main concern” about Adams, who was identified as a secondary school teacher and APNU group chairman “who brought our village name to shame.”

According to the petition, on December 3, Ramotar visited the Deep South Rupununi, including Aishalton, where a meeting was held at the Village council office’s lawns. It reads:

“During the meeting, Mr. Adams was throwing remarks to the President, abusive and insulting words. He was under the influence of alcohol, had beer bottle in his hand, witnessed by the public and school children. He asked question and was answered. He disturbed the peaceful meeting. The media published false information about John Adams receiving multiple slaps and was chased down by the President guard. After the meeting, he continued using insulting words when his Excellency was leaving for dinner.

“That was not the only time he behaved so. There were times he went to school under the influence of alcohol, missing school during school days on his own business, depriving students of their lessons, even show disrespect to the village council. He even a time leave class to join women’s group to protest in front of a Mulgravian company excavator that was heading to Marudi.

“These are just few to mention. There are more what he did in class and to a school girl. Nothing was ever done about his behavior to this date. He came from Region 7 to embarrass our village Aishalton. Teacher should show respect to children and respect to his work. What good example is he showing to students and how will he correct them. We do not appreciate this type of behavior in our community. Although we are all Guyanese, we have to respect the law and Aishalton is controlled by a village council not by NDC.

“Today at village public meeting, 5th January 2015, the matter was brought up and the public agree that he be transferred because of his other behaviours which is not mentioned here. The Ministry of Education should address this immediately. The media is publishing false information. More witnesses from Aishalton are doing this because the opposition are using this to campaign and to gain votes. This should stop.”

‘Very discriminatory’

On Wednesday, former Toshao James objected to the petition and described it as “very discriminatory.” He pointed out that while Adams came from Region Seven, he is married to a resident of Aishalton. “He has a house, he has everything down here,” he related.

As it relates to engaging in protests, he said that Adams was not the only one who had participated in a protest. ”So what about the rest of us who was part of protests in Lethem?” he questioned. He noted that Community Service Officers also participated in protests in Georgetown but no one said anything. According to the former village leader, the action was tantamount to shuttering freedom of expression and the entire community is not in agreement.

Subsequent to the slapping incident, a recording was also released in which a voice said to be of the President was heard calling a resident stupid. Adams insisted to Stabroek News that Ramotar was speaking to him. It would appear as though that the president’s comments came after Adams had heckled him about former President Bharrat Jagdeo. Ramotar has not denied that the voice was his though the Office of the President said the recording’s contents would have to be authenticated.

“Everybody know that is what the president said,” former Toshao James said yesterday. “Is it we who are embarrassing or is the president who embarrass us?” he questioned.

He said there are other pressing issues that need the attention of the council. He identified these as suicide, including an attempt by a teen recently, as well as an issue of a health worker using up seven months’ salary of another government worker based in a remote community.

He added that he had also asked that the accounts of the Aishalton Village Council be audited but the council has refused to open their books.