49th Annual Convention for B.N.T.U. Held in Corozal

The militant Belize National Teachers Union has taken pause from its advocacy to clean house. The last time they met was in Belmopan where they held a rally on the I.C.J.  Tonight, teachers are meeting in Corozal Town for their forty-ninth annual convention.  The B.N.T.U has four seats to be filled, but three are uncontested, including that of Senator Elena Smith, who remains as President of the union. The post of first vice president is currently up for grabs and is being vied for by two well-known personalities: former national president Luke Palacio and Otilio Munoz of the Orange Walk branch.  According to Smith, the purpose of the annual convention is to review the business of the union and to select a new executive.  News Five spoke with B.N.T.U. President Elena Smith.

On the Phone: Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.

“So in terms of elections, we normally have four positions that the teachers would have a chance to get to vote for.  Of those four positions, three are uncontested and they include the national president, the national secretary and the national treasurer.  So there is only one position that they will be voting for and that’s the position of first vice president.”

Isani Cayetano

“Can you share with us the persons who are either nominated or who have offered themselves for that position?”

On the Phone: Elena Smith

“So the two persons we have include Brother Otilio Munoz from Orange Walk branch and then we have the current First Vice President Luke Palacio.”