Belize Peace Movements Wants Teachers to Monitor ICJ Referendum

The Belize Peace Movement is a strong proponent of the “No to the I.C.J.” taking its campaign as much as possible across the country. So when it was not invited to send observers to provide oversight to the stand-alone April tenth referendum in respect of the polling as well as the counting process, it took umbrage at its exclusion and is now suggesting a way forward. The movement today wrote to the Elections and Boundaries Department and is proposing that the functions be coordinated thru the efforts of the Belize National Teachers Union. They point out that the B.N.T.U. is an affiliate of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize and its president sits in the Senate. This would meet the requirement that scrutinisers be drawn from organizations that are represented in the National Assembly. The B.P.M notes that teachers are deployed across the length and breadth of the country and are familiar and well regarded in their respective communities. Furthermore teachers and the B.N.T.U. have not taken a position on the I.C.J. issue. News Five spoke to B.N.T.U. President Senator Elena Smith this evening. According to Senator Smith, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize will hold a meeting on Thursday evening at their headquarters in Belize City where the topic is expected to be discussed. Senator Smith said that the B.N.T.U. has not received any official request or proposal.