Two months have passed since Jamaica’s Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling ordering the reinstatement of Dr. Marjorie Fullerton as principal of Merl Grove High School, alongside full payment of all outstanding wages and benefits accrued since her unlawful termination. But as of this week, the veteran educator has yet to receive a single cent of the compensation she is legally owed, prompting urgent concern from Jamaica’s largest education sector union.
Speaking with the Jamaica Observer on Thursday, Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Assistant Secretary General Doran Dixon voiced deep frustration over the ongoing delay, noting the court’s ruling leaves no room for noncompliance. “The lower court’s original decision to uphold her removal was quashed entirely, so she is legally entitled to every dollar of salary and benefits owed to her over the period she was unjustly out of office,” Dixon explained.
Dixon emphasized that there is no legitimate legal ground for withholding payment, as Fullerton complied fully with every step of the judicial process throughout her years-long dispute. “She respected the court, she followed all procedures, and now that the court has ruled in her favor, the Ministry of Education and relevant stakeholders have a binding obligation to respect that ruling and act on it promptly,” he added. “Dr. Fullerton, her legal team, and the JTA all share this deep concern over the unnecessary hold-up.”
As of press time, multiple requests for comment from Education Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon and ministry permanent secretary Kasan Troupe have gone unanswered.
According to Dixon, while the Merl Grove High school board has stated it intends to appeal the Supreme Court’s ruling, no formal stay of execution — which would pause enforcement of the judgment pending appeal — has been granted by the court. What is more, the board filed its notice of appeal past the legal deadline, forcing it to seek special court permission to even move forward with the appeal process. “Under Jamaican court procedure, an appeal filed even one minute past the deadline is still considered late,” Dixon noted. “While the board has applied for an extension to proceed, the court has not yet issued a stay on the original ruling, which remains fully in effect.”
Fullerton’s dispute with the school dates back to 2021, when she was first suspended from her post at Merl Grove, a prominent all-girls institution owned by the Associated Gospel Assemblies Church. In 2022, the school’s personnel committee held a disciplinary hearing into allegations against her, concluded the claims were proven, and the school board moved to remove her from the principal position permanently.
That decision was upheld by both the Ministry of Education and the church, before being fully overturned in the Supreme Court’s March 6, 2026 ruling, which ordered Fullerton’s immediate reinstatement and back payment.
Dixon stressed that the ministry’s obligation to comply is even more pressing given Fullerton’s personal circumstances throughout the legal battle: the principal has been undergoing treatment for cancer during her years out of office. The ruling entitles her to close to four years of unpaid salary and benefits, a sum that is critical for her ongoing care and financial stability, Dixon said.
He also issued a clear warning that if the Ministry of Education and school officials continue to ignore the court’s order, Fullerton’s legal team will move forward with contempt of court proceedings against the responsible parties. “Because no stay of execution has been granted, the original judgment remains fully enforceable. Stakeholders that refuse to comply are in open violation of the court’s order, and we have every right to initiate contempt proceedings to enforce the ruling,” Dixon confirmed.