B.N.T.U.’s Council of Management will plan new strategy
The council of management of the Belize National Teachers Union is meeting on Saturday to discuss the way forward in light of recent developments in the education sector. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Education announced that it was bypassing B.N.T.U. and going directly to the Managing Authorities to discuss the issue of makeup time and salary deduction. This is on the heels of recent industrial action staged by teachers across the country. While the B.N.T.U. maintains that its cause for taking to the streets was justified, the issue of compensation and lost teaching sessions remains contentious. The latest move by Minister of Education Patrick Faber is described as disingenuous and has prompted the council of management to regroup and re-strategize.
Luke Palacio, National President, BNTU
Luke Palacio
“We want to resolve this issue but you know what experience has taught us about this government, they would meet with an organization and they would make sure that they satisfy one aspect and then that organization goes quiet. And that is why all of these things that have been festering in our country continue to fester simply because individuals, organizations have not taken the stand that BNTU has taken. The BNTU has a constitution that governs how it operates, we are a democratic organization, no one person dictates to BNTU how it will move. Our constitution does that. Our council will be meeting on Saturday again because it’s a democratic organization we will listen to what direction they give us. But for the minister to come and try to stronghold the BNTU because if you read what he said yesterday, he said, “I insist on my position and they don’t want to move.” So he is insistent on his position. Our council so far is insistent on our position and this is not trying to disrespect anybody. There is a process and we are prepared to continue to follow that process because we must maintain the integrity of the Belize National Teachers Union.”
