**REAL NEWS ANTIGUA** : In a powerful show of solidarity with public-school educators, Emanuel Peters, the United Progressive Party’s Caretaker for St. John’s Rural South, is stepping up to recognize the hard work and dedication of teachers in his constituency.

On Friday, May 30, Peters will host a special appreciation luncheon for the teachers of Ottos Comprehensive School, Golden Grove Primary, and Mary E. Pigott Primary. The catered meal, complete with dessert, is Peters’ way of saying “thank you” to those on the frontlines of shaping the nation’s future.

“Our teachers are among the most important pillars of this country,” Peters states. “Yet, time and again, they are overlooked and underappreciated—especially by this Administration, whose recent actions have shown blatant disrespect to both educators and their union.”

Peters makes it clear: the event is more than just a meal. It is a statement.

“This is a small but meaningful gesture. Our teachers have endured a difficult third term, and they continue to give their all under trying conditions. What I’m doing is just a token of my deep appreciation—but it also sends a message. We see you, we value you, and we stand with you.”

As both a businessman and political representative, Peters says he and the United Progressive Party firmly believe that education is the foundation of national development.

“Teachers don’t just deliver lessons—they provide emotional support, model positive behaviour, and often fill the gaps left by struggling families and strained communities,” he says. “They are mentors, motivators, and moulders of the next generation.”

Peters concludes with conviction: “Our teachers are this country’s greatest resource. We must treat them with the dignity and fairness they deserve. I’m proud to do my part—and I won’t stop speaking up for you.