EDITORIAL - Even Mr Dixon deserves natural justice

The Jamaica Teachers' Association's (JTA) constitution is not an easy document to get hold of.

It is not posted on the JTA's website. Nor is it readily accessible through the association's information officer.

But even in the absence of the document, it seems, prima facie, a breach of natural justice for the JTA to deny Doran Dixon to run for its presidency, however odious or uncouth Mr Dixon may be.

To paraphrase Larry Flint, the publisher of Hustler, the pornographic magazine, if personalities like himself have the right to America's free-speech privileges, imagine the greater right afforded to upstanding people. Although the contexts between the two men are vastly different, the general principle is adaptable to the Dixon case.

Doran Dixon, who lectures at The Mico University College, is a former president of the JTA who wants to hold the top job again. The election takes place later this month.

Mr Dixon became embroiled in controversy when he likened Jamaica's education minister, Ronald Thwaites, to a mongrel dog over the minister's highlighting of the truth that excessive holiday and paid study leave enjoyed by teachers is no longer affordable.

Mr Dixon, like Paul Adams, another former JTA president who claimed Mr Thwaites' action was akin to a man on cocaine, refused to apologise for his crude and vulgar behaviour. This newspaper, like Mico president, Dr Claude Packer, believes that Mr Dixon has damaged the Mico brand. He is certainly not the kind of person, who, we believe, should be in the job of training teachers.

But that, ultimately, is a matter to be resolved by the Mico trustees and its appointment committee. So it is, too, for the board of the Herbert Morrison Technical High School, where the boorish Mr Adams is the principal.

The election for the JTA's presidency, and Mr Dixon's place in the contest, is quite another matter. We are told that the association's Credentials Committee was concerned about Mr Dixon's "unfortunate and unprofessional statement", which formed the basis of the organisation's president's decision to withdraw him from the slate of candidates. The constitutional basis for this action remains unclear.

FULL VENTILATION REQUIRED

Mr Dixon suggests that he will seek redress in the court. We think he should. The issue requires full ventilation.

Mr Dixon must be clear: Our position is no endorsement of his candidacy. Our wish would be that he is heavily defeated in the election by someone of better decorum than he has put on display; and, certainly, sagacity than he offered during his previous incumbency. Notwithstanding the potential for unfavourable outcomes, democracy should run its course.

The outcome of this election, with Mr Dixon, would reveal a lot about the JTA and its membership. It is, indeed, the view of many that the action of the Credentials Committee was out of fear that a Doran Dixon victory would expose the JTA for what it is perceived to have become: an organisation driven by greed, unencumbered by standards, and in which any populist Pied Piper can carry the crowd.

If there are any positives from the Doran Dixon matter and the fiasco of recent weeks, it would be that the JTA is being forced to reflect on what it has become. In which event it may be possible to be saved.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.