Dear Met,
A friend of mine was diagnosed with Lupus a few years ago.This form of Lupus comes with rashes and blebs(small blisters) when she stresses.She’s a trained teacher, graduated from Mico with her bachelors in primary education. Unable to get a job because of stigmatization. Recently she successfully obtained an interview at a certain school in Savanna la Mar, was told by the principal after the interview that it went well and she passed.She was called saying they(persons at the school) were getting complaints from both parents and staff about the rashes on her skin. She got turned down from the job because of sickness. She went to work and a teacher called her saying she shouldn’t come in until she heard from the principal. Said teacher also said that the principal was supposed to tell her from the day before but it slipped her. Right now she’s stressing again because she’s distraught about the whole situation. Is this stigmatization? I need advice.
Your friend sounds like she has discoid Lupus and a steroid cream should help along with plaquinil.
Your friend sounds like she has discoid Lupus and a steroid cream should help along with plaquinil..
Friend, you should advise your friend to write a very strong letter to the Minister and Ministry of Education. In said letter she should let them know that her Section 13 (3) (h) Charter Right has been breached but instead of seeking legal recourse she is asking for the Ministry’s intervention failing which she will have no other choice but to bring a court action for the breach.
Section 13 (3) (h) of the Jamaican Charter provides for a “right to equitable and humane treatment by a public authority in the exercise of any function.” This provision has been applied widely and thus the bias which your friend has experienced would be encapsulated here. She should highlight the treatment meted out to her in her letter, state her qualifications and experience and also demonstrate how based on these factors combined she has been treated less fairly than a similar placed comparator ( e.g. someone with same qualifications and experience getting the job(s)).
Lastly, one may be inclined to argue the discrimination provision from the Charter in her situation, but note that in the Jamaican context it has been narrowly applied to include only the enumerated grounds of which illness, disabilities etc. are not listed.
She is a teacher so I hope that based on the guidance she will be able to draft a strong enough letter which will get the attention of the relevant public authority and can lead to better outcomes. I wish her the best. Please also remember to seek God’s intervention, He ultimately can fix it all.
Great reply :peluk
Again, people MUST STOP giving away their RIGHTS!
Friend, your details alone answered the question and that teacher making calls on the principal’s behalf should be named in her formal complaint.
This situation should have your friend going into that particular community and call a meeting to educate the ignorants parents who may have lupus and don’t even know, yet.
I know of a lady who was murdered for such ignorance. Long story short: poor old lady murdered coldly because a teacher girl had lupus and died. Her jackass brother killed the lady because dem think the innocent woman (never utter a mean word in her life) obeah him sister!
“Knowledge is power”
love this site. Thank you, will pass this on