There is an ongoing impasse between the President of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers (ABUT), Casroy Charles, and outgoing Treasurer, Denise Gardiner.
The matter stems from a letter Charles wrote to Gardiner dated May 19, 2025, in which he asked informed her that based on a legal opinion, her election of three years earlier was invalid and therefore ‘effective immediately you no longer hold the office of Treasurer of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers’.
Despite this however, Charles is asking Gardiner to ‘extend the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers the courtesy of facilitating the signing of all financial documents that demand the affixing of your signature… until the changing of signatories is legitimized…”
But Gardiner decided to respond in kind by writing to Charles in a letter dated May 21, 2025, asking him to provide in writing the legal basis for his correspondence. “Your reference to a legal opinion suggests that your actions were predicated upon external legal advice. You, as a learned individual, must know that a legal opinion is precisely that—an opinion, not a court ruling. Its implementation, if at all warranted, rests with the Executive Committee, not with the President acting unilaterally,” she wrote.
She went further asking him to provide records of the count of those who voted to support his action and whether or not the Executive Committee had sanctioned his decision to seek a legal opinion.
“In the interest of transparency, fair play, and natural justice, I request responses to the following:
- When did the Executive instruct you to seek legal advice on the legitimacy of my election as Treasurer?
- What was the count and wording of such a motion?
- Did the Executive move a formal motion for my removal? If so, what was the vote count?
“Should such records exist, I hereby invoke my right under Section 7H of the Constitution of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers to access them. Absent these records, I am left with no alternative but to conclude that you acted unilaterally and without the authority vested in your office. I remind you that Section 7A of our Constitution clearly defines the President’s role as follows:
(a) Preside over meetings
(b) Summon any special meeting
(c) Deliver the State of the Union Address at the Annual Conference
“The President does not possess the authority to make executive decisions on behalf of the Union outside of these parameters. Section 8 explicitly assigns that power to the Executive Committee, stating: “The Executive Committee shall function as an executive body in the best interest of the Union.” I challenge you to explain how this decision was made without consultation, consensus, or due process or can possibly be viewed as in the best interest of the Union,” Gardiner noted.
The outgoing treasurer noted that she did not seek re-election as treasurer and that a new treasurer was to take office in a short time, therefore, what was the motivation for his actions.
Gardiner noted that she may have been singled out because she questioned the president’s decision to meet with the opposition UPP, a decision she believes, jeopardized the union’s claim to impartiality. She noted that there she may have been singled out for political and others reasons.
Gardiner, has been a member of the ABUT for many years. She and PM Gaston Browne have a child together.
