Progressive Party Joins In; Says B.N.T.U. Cannot Stand Alone

Patrick Rogers

The B.N.T.U. has been weathering the storm almost alone, albeit with the support of parents, as the strike continues. At the press conference, the B.P.P.’s Patrick Rogers, expressed support and called on the private sector to also show muscle for the teachers.

Patrick Rogers, Political Leader, B.P.P.

“Today the B.P.P. stands in hundred percent solidarity with the teachers and again, we know it is not a politically driven movement.  It’s a movement of honest, hardworking Belizeans.  I mean some of our most honest Belizeans are right there amongst the rank and file of those teachers in the B.N.T.U. they’re not right under a minister or a contract officer/C.E.O. or a connected head of department or a crony of the U.D.P. weh di head one of the utilities union.  So they have more leverage, if you may, and initiate industrial strike action which is a peaceful means of stepping up this anti against the government.  But brothers and sisters, if we do not understand that in this third week of industrial action they need us now more than ever to let Mr. Barrow understand, Mr. Barrow dah noh everybody corrupt man.  Da only di people dehn weh benefit from corruption no necessarily wahn see this thing go to another level.  In 2005, we thought we had achieved something.  I mean, a couple years after we even got a good amendment to the Finance and Audit Act based on those same agitations of 2005; however, we see the very same Godwin Hulse, minister of everything that the prime minister like use, being part of that fight fi get wahn amended Finance and Audit Act, zip up because he was in the Cabinet when the prime minister went and write that law to fix the wrongs that he did, backdating it to 2012.  So I must say Belize, this thing is not political and we need the business community especially, I wahn mek this appeal to the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry: we know unu like play games, we know unu got owner managers weh no necessarily trusted by workers.  So fu mek we could trust unu, help the best way you can help.  The teachers need money eena dehn pocket now you can contribute financially.  So that is what I’d like to see.”