Opinion: Chris Famous “Hit The Road Jack”
[Opinion column written by Chris Famous]
“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” Friedrich Nietzsche
Timeline
Well, well, some new facts have been revealed by New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper which directly contradicts the public statement that Dr. Heatley made on March 18th:-
- 1. “I have not applied for any other jobs.” Documents sourced from Dr. Heatley’s online application revealed that he applied for more than one job.
- 2. “Back in December when I allowed my résumé to be put forward.” The date of submission for Dr. Heatley’s application is clearly recorded as Feb 26th, 2014.
- 3. Dr. Heatley indicated on his application that his primary supervisor was Warren Jones – Mr. Jones announced his resignation on Oct 29th and officially left his post in December, nearly three months BEFORE this application was submitted.
- 4. Dr. Heatley stated that the impetus for his applying for the New Orleans post, was because “The PS had resigned, the Education Ministry had been merged with another Ministry and the Minister had been replaced.”The cabinet shuffle and the merging of the Ministry of Education with Economic Development occurred on December 11th. By January 22nd, Dr. Heatley had a new permanent secretary, Mr. Ross Webber.
- 5. “However, since then, I am pleased to report that I have built a very positive working relationship with the current PS and Minister.” This timeline of events does not support Dr. Heatley’s story unless one is to believe that this “very positive working relationship” miraculously developed sometime between Feb 26th when he applied for these jobs and March 18th when he made this public explanation.
- 6. “I remain committed to the students of Bermuda and I remain committed to improving the Bermuda education system.” However, in response to a question regarding “when does [the current] contract expire”, Dr. Heatley stated “with a 30 day notice.” 30 days is the scope of his commitment to our children.
- 7. it seems the heat is getting to Dr Heatley . On April 1st 2014 ,Lousiana’s Times Picayune reports that, “Edmond Heatley, education commissioner of Bermuda, is now withdrawing his application. The internet has a way of exposing people globally,in short order.
On his application, Dr. Heatley listed his Bermuda accomplishments:-
- 1. “Increased public education approval rates from 23% to 93%.” One would assume that an amazing jump of 70% such as this would have been reported by the OBA.
- 2. “Authored 2013 Parliamentary amendments to the Education Act.” In October 2013, the then Education Minister Nalton Brangman made a proposal that was in direct conflict with OBA’s promise to institute board-run schools. The OBA failed to inform stakeholders about the scope of these amendments?
Principals Speak
“Given the recent events highlighted in the local and overseas media in relation to Dr. Edmond Heatley, Commissioner of Education, the Principals of the Bermuda Public School System, who are represented by the Bermuda Public Services Union, have declared a vote of no confidence in Dr. Heatley.” – Bernews April 3, 2014
Flaky Folks
With no permanent Education Minister, and a flaky Commissioner of Education, Bermudians now doubt the OBA’s commitment to public education.
It is abundantly clear that Dr. Heatley has contradicted himself repeatedly. Dude simply cannot be trusted.
It is also time for others to change their negative descriptions of Bermudians, and stop jumping to the defence of the defenceless.
It is time for Junior Education Minister MP Leah Scott to speak up on this matter.
Most importantly it is time to stop the political spin, Dr. Gibbons needs to remove Dr. Heatley from his post immediately.
Hit the road Jack.
-Chris Famous
Mr. Famous should take over at Education!
Good God, don’t make me choke on my lunch!!
I agree.
another infamous opinion!
I am no supporter of the OBA, PLP or of Dr. Heatley. However, I believe this man is been given a hard time for simply applying for another job.
Before the details of his job application were known, before it was clear how many job applications he had made, folks were calling for his removal.
How many of us, although happy with our current employment, often are on the lookout for other opportunities. How many of us, submit job applications to ‘see what happens’ although we are content with our current employer?
This happens all the time, so why is Heatley been given a hard time? Is there a rule that states heads of government departments or folks in the education department are prohibited from applying for other jobs?
As for a couple of your points:
1) “Dr. Heatley indicated on his application that his primary supervisor was Warren Jones”
Wasn’t Mr. Jones indeed his supervisor, at one point? Do you know if his application allowed him to indicate previous supervisors or specifically his current supervisor?
On job applications, I have put previous supervisors, and not my current one, if I feel they are best to comment on my competency. No HR person has called me a liar because of this. During the interview and during their due diligence/reference checks, it would be known whether this is a current or previous supervisor.
2) “Increased public education approval rates from 23% to 93%.”
Admittedly, this does seem suspect to me. But in the absence of any definition of ‘approval rates’, we are just assuming he is a liar. We have no idea what metric or statistic he is quoting. Furthermore, his potential employer would surely conduct due diligence/reference checks to substantiate his claims and they would not take this on blind faith. On his application, he did put the name of a previous supervisor, and I am sure this person would be called to verify this.
3) “the Principals of the Bermuda Public School System, who are represented by the Bermuda Public Services Union, have declared a vote of no confidence in Dr. Heatley.”
It is not uncommon for employees to dislike their manager. So, what does this mean, get of him? Well the plethora of private and home school indicates a no confidence vote of the public school system, so let’s dump the heads of the respective schools…the principals.
This man has done nothing wrong. He explored his options, which we all do from time to time. There is no reason to dump him for this. All details and information, on his application, would surely be vetted by his potential employer so no need for anyone else to speculate that he is a liar.
Flikel say, you sound like Trew…..”You continue to Defend the Defenceless,”…. STOP IT, and accept the facts as they are. Do not attempt to justified the actions of Heatley, folks will not support it or buy it. Get over it, and push for REAL change for the benefit our children in the public education. REALLY
Well factual pieces of article Chris. Facts stand on their own. Time for him to go and the Minister to wake up NOW, not later.
Facts? He’s “quoting” someone/something else. But all good. Generally agree.
As for Trew, as in Bryant Trew. He’d run circles around you and Famous ALL DAY every and any day!! You spew garbage. Like most other things. Trew wrote a good piece on this situation.
1.) The application clearly states current supervisor and as at the time of his application (Feb 26th) his PS was Webber
2.) IF there was a survey done that shows a 70% increase in confidence, his previous PS Jones wudnt be able to answer questions about it bc he submitted his resignation notice in Oct. Heatley began in Sept.
3.) Most principles are in support of the audit process. The principles only came out w/a no confidence vote after it was revealed Heatley LIED
No one is disputing his right to apply for another post BUT no one can dispute that his actions surrounding this application ALSO gives stakeholders – parents, teachers, principles the RIGHT to lose respect n trust.
Heatley said that all he wud need is 30 days in order to be available to take the New Orleans post.
In my opinion, THAT says it ALL
Best thing I’ve seen in quite a while, Christopher Famous, Famouss, Famousss. HIT THE ROAD JACK and don’t come back no more, no more.
“The date of submission for Dr. Heatley’s application is clearly recorded as Feb 26th, 2014.”
Chris Famous, I thought the same thing… Until I looked at a number of the other applicants forms and saw that they were submitted on the same date. This may be an internal date stamp by the agency as opposed to the actual date that the candidate submitted the form.
Just an observation.
You’re right. In fact, all 7 of Famous’s ‘points’ are really based on a deliberate mischaracterization of dates.
And this crap about there being ‘no permanent education minister’ is irritating as well. It’s a well-established practice that one capable person might hold more than one ministry. Ewart held the positions of Premier, Transport Minster and Tourism minister, for years. I don’t recall them saying he was ‘part-time’ at those jobs because he held several titles.
It’s another weak op piece making issues out of nothing. Weak.
@Suzie, give it a break and just fall on your sword. The reality is this man has Lied and Deceived Bermuda. Your continued defense of this individual suggest your blindfaithfulness is killing you so much that your not willing to accept the truth. What more do you need to prove he has failed us and Bermuda has lost faith and trust in Heatley? Maybe you need to meet him, and it would help you wake up for a change. REALLY get off it and move on and push for his removal for the good of our CHILDREN IN BERMUDA, their EDUCATION IS KEY AND AT STAKE….STOP DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE…PLEASE..
“The reality is this man has Lied and Deceived Bermuda.”
“WE HAD TO DECEIVE YOU” – ring a bell – Betty – “Your continued defense of this individual suggest your blind faithfulness is killing you so much that your not willing to accept the truth”
Education shud have its own minister n permanent secretary as it has one of the biggest budgets of all the ministries AND it has the largest # of staff. And let’s no forget the # of students that are directly impacted.
Even SAGE recommended that Education MUST be a stand-alone ministry!!
But it was ok for the Finance Ministry to be “part time” under Cox, wasn’t it.
” one capable person might hold more than one ministry. Ewart held the positions of Premier, Transport Minster and Tourism minister, for years. I don’t recall them saying he was ‘part-time’ at those jobs because he held several titles.È
=====================
Reality is that everyone said that (which has nothing to do with how much he was paid).
The fact that Brown held THREE important posts at the same seems to have been ignored(selective amnesia?) by some in order to score cheap political points.
Surely he had capable people at his disposal, but decided to keep them at arms length. Why?
@Suzie “Q”(2:27 4/4/14)I agree…For each Post Dr. Ewart Brown held down he was paid for:-(And yes,out of the public’s purse for far too long and he had to go!It’s more “bullcrap” hearing the same things coming from them that are against progress. Take the blinders off u’lot and give it enough time and then you too will see it as clear as the waters are in the Crystal Caves ponds…
Did you actually expect Mr. Famous to bother checking little things like that. If he did it would detract from his rant.
I am in the unusual position of agreeing with the above opinion. This guy has shot himself in the foot – although it is unprofessional of the New Orleans lot to make an application public in the early stages of the process.
Bermuda needs to have a serious, educated, dedicated and determined education minister who needs to stay put for the duration of the government. Was hard to take the previous guy seriously and Grant Gibbons seems more interested in business than education. Hard decisions need to be made in order to turn around the failing school system – these continual short-term ministers are not up to the job. Much as I disagreed with the PLP, Jennifer Smith at least gave the impression of starting to do some work on improving education.
Not exactly sure what the point of the commissioner is in any case…
“Hard decisions need to be made in order to turn around the failing school system”
Perhaps Heatley was making these hard decisions, which is why the school principals don’t like him
We ‘talk’ about making hard decisions, but once we get the slightest bit uncomfortable, we try to run the decisions makers out of town. We are not prepared to accept the consequences of hard decisions.
Heatley was not making any hard decisions. He has not come up with anything original to improve public Education. He was perhaps good at fooling some, but not all by the looks of things. He seem to be a good spinner of words and actions. Looks like you fell for the nonsense unfortunately. Poor you…. others are awake…they see beyond the rhetoric
Heatley was making decisions that were steps away from the Hopkins report findings. Stop with your false belief and defense of this man. He has fallen on his sword, and needs to be removed from the Chess board of our Education system.
Education of our children is a “Serious Matter”, not one to be taken lightly and folks making up excuses for person like this need to be taken to task and made to open up their eyes and ears. REALLY…. REALLY
Your making me laugh now, how can you continue to drum up support and make allowances for his man….oooh
And you know what Heatley was doing how?
New Orleans has a full-disclosure law. Sorta what we were promised w/PATI
PATI is a four letter word !! LOL Two years ago it was used as a weapon by the combined opposition against the ruling party , now it’s a discarded or spent cartridge .
The fact that you use “combined opposition” says a WHOLE lot about you…
A “full disclosure law” should not include the names of people who have applied for jobs nor should it include their applications.
Otherwise you’re pretty much guaranteeing that the only people that will apply are those who have nothing to lose (i.e., are currently unemployed).
Of course the fact that the New Orleans are begging people to apply may be the result of that – no-one with a decent job is willing to apply because it will potentially endanger their current position.
Why does everyone have such a stiff one for this guy?? Geesh. You don’t know him personally, all you believe is what the news reports like narrow minded idiots and are obsessed with his every actions. He might as well make the public aware of his bathroom schedule. I’m convinced there are not enough people getting some good ole fashion love on this island. smh. Whats with all the men on this island crying and acting like there isnt an ounce of testosterone in their body latey. “He flew on a private jet” im telling mama, he took his friend too im telling mama,….mama he’s applying for a job and my feelings are hurt because i thought he was staying….Mama he let someone listen in on a convo i had with him on the phone……waaaa waaaa waaa..can we act like grown ups?
According to some (most?) of his detractors the only requirement for this job is to be Bermudian. Whether or not someone is qualified or capable is completely immaterial.
To be honest, given the politics of this island and the way he’s been castigated since he first arrived on the island I don’t blame the guy for looking for something else – this can’t have been a pleasant place for him to work from the day he arrived. It was made clear to him from day one that he was not welcome.
Will the OBA acknowledge its failure ?
To suggest this is an OBA failure is ludicrous. It could just as easily have happened under the former PLP Government and they would have been in exactly the same boat. The Bermuda Government presumably has a legal contract with Dr. Heatley and they are no doubt looking at it to see if Mr. Heatley has in any way breached his side of the contract. Unfortunately, it may just be that what he has done is unethical rather than illegal, in which case we already know that there is very little one can do!
Normally have very little time for Mr Famous but must agree that this guy Heatly needs to go
Real talk the teachers, parents,,principals, and children are responsible for their own education too many rude youths in school doing nothing but being rude and acting up. Teachers sitting back and getting paid and principals getting fat paychecks while their students are failing. you cant blame this man for looking for another job.All we Bermudians do is blame each other instead of actually doing something. We Bermudians are too spoiled. Back in the day if you acted up in school the teacher cracked you then called ya momma to crack you too. Once this stop kids started the you cant touch me movement lead by shielgh Cooper.
And while we are at it who authorized Beyonce at a millions dollars ?
Must have been the OBA. After all, according to Betty Trump, they`re responsible for everything that has gone wrong since the PLP won an election.
But if anyone, and I mean anyone, believes that Beyonce`s visit only cost a million dollars, I can make you a deal on some swampland in Florida or a Bridge in Brooklyn. Call me.
When need an educator who is goind take sacrafices for our bermudian children! And he aint cuttng it!
I fully expect Dr. Heatley to fall back on the Clarence Thomas defence’” They are trying to lynch me”.
He would not be the first and certainly not the last, Alvin – but I somehow doubt it… I suspect the truth is the gentleman really does want out because he had no idea the incestuous, backstabbing, nepotistic mess he would have to deal with before he even began to think about the kids.
That pretty much summarizes it.
I thought that was the Zane phrase.
Dr. Gina Tucker for Commissioner!!!!!!!!
What?
We must get rid of the dead wood in that Ministry before progress can be made.
Usually I don’t agree with Mr. Famous but he has got it right this time. Get crackin Heatley! Our children deserve more than you.