The Education Minister Ronnie Thwaites has told Jamaica’s public school teachers that the impending of pension reform is a desperate economic necessity and that they must face.

He was addressing the educators on the final day of the three-day annual conference of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) in Montego Bay, St James today.

According to Thwaites, the reform proposals have dire implications for any economic programme being pursued to assist the country.

He also said there may have to be changes to binding agreements that are now being enforced but stressed that certain outstanding obligations must be met by the government.

On Monday, the new JTA president Clayton Hall said the association was prepared to take its case to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council or the Caribbean Court of Justice if the pension rules are changed.

A legal opinion that from the Attorney General’s Department had reasoned that the pension reform being proposed was unconstitutional.

But that opinion was later rescinded by Attorney General Patrick Atkinson.

editorial@gleanerjm.com