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So where do the teachers stand in all this? The usually vocal BNTU has been noticeably silent on the divisive issue. This evening in a press briefing about CXC exams, the Minister of Education said he feels they support the government's position that this year's increment can be sacrificed:

Hon. Patrick Faber- Minister of Education
"I want to say that I support the Prime Minister's position fully. But it is not only that I support the Prime Minister's position fully it should be that a good majority of the teachers themselves support the prime Minister's position. Here we are in a situation where many in the private sector are losing their jobs. Asking for teachers and public servants to forego the increments for a fiscal year is not an unreasonable request. But by and large, we work in the public service everyday. I work with the public servants everyday and I don't get that impression coming from a good many of the public servants that they are not willing to do what they need to do, this small compromise in order to support the country's effort, of where in fact the salaries of all public servants are still being honoured by this administration. So, I am hoping for, certainly in terms of the leadership of the BNTU, which is the union that guides the teachers and the wider majority of the teachers, that they will support this position."

Later on we'll have more form Faber as he speaks about the dates set for the CSEC and CAPE exams.