Students of the University of T&T Animation programme have already gathered close to 100 signatures for an online petition which is demanding that their teacher, Camille Selvon-Abrahams, who was dismissed by the university, be reinstated.
“Camille Selvon-Abrahams is the pioneer of Animation in the Caribbean, being the one to start an animation festival and an animation Diploma in Animation at UTT in Trinidad and Tobago. She was recently unceremoniously dismissed from UTT and set to be replaced, without prior warning. This is grounds for wrongful termination. In addition, it has negatively impacted on her students,” the students’ petition read.
“We do not agree to this unfair treatment and will be standing out against it. It impacts us and the many of us to come. Many students fear for the future of the animation department as it may be in jeopardy based on the actions displayed.
“It was Camille’s job to enter grades and organise the student final film screening, neither of which to this moment have been able to be done. Also Camille was involved in facilitating events and projects under UTT like the Animation Camp, a UTT collaboration workshop with Telecommunication Association of T&T, a workshop with Royal College of Art and more. This now leaves the question open as to whether these which were for the benefit of students, will still continue.
“It says that one can offer several years of service, only to be so unceremoniously booted out. That at the end of all your hard work, someone else can now lay claim? It shows a blatant disregard for Camille’s value, time and sacrifice. It sets a bad precedence for the workplace, allowing another to basically undo the actions of another, or ride off their coattails and let it be allowed, without a bat of an eye.”
Last Friday, Selvon-Abrahams was dismissed and escorted off the campus. She said she was told that the reason for her dismissal was because of a restructuring of the programme, and since she does not have a PhD, her services would no longer be required.
Selvon-Abrahams started the diploma in animation, the first tertiary-level programme in annimation. She is also the head of Film TT and the founder of the Animé Caribe Animation Festival.
The students said Selvon-Abrahams’ dismissal sends a poor message to the public and the students. They said it shows disregard for a person’s hard work and dedication.