Teechaz Gat Yu Bak! B.N.T.U. Sends Message to G.O.B.

The first of a string of activities by the Belize National Teachers Union was held simultaneously today across the country. Members of the union rallied together in motorcades to sound their discontent with a government proposed salary cut and increment freeze.  The teachers are not backing down and will continue with a plan of action leading up to the budget presentation on March twenty-sixth. News Five’s Duane Moody reports from the streets of Belize City.

Duane Moody, Reporting

At nine-thirty on the dot, the motorcade began. Police confirm that up to ninety vehicles packed with teachers, who are members of the Belize National Teachers Union, traversed through the principal streets of Belize City sending a strong message to the government – teachers do not accept its proposed plan to save on public service salaries and increments.

Sheree Salgado

Sheree Salgado, Teacher

“No to the ten percent salary cut! Everything di go up and fu we salary gwen down? How we wah feed wi pikney? How we gwen ina wi pocket fi put money ina wi classroom? No to the ten percent! No!”

Tanya Flowers-Gillett

Tanya Flowers-Gillett, President, B.N.T.U. Belize District Branch

“Teachers do not only take care of our families; we take care of other children in the classroom. I can personally tell you of how many children I feed and send to school and teachers talk about they have to prepare their classrooms. Presently they have to be paying for their own internet at home, getting their own devices to do online teaching. So these are some of the things that they are really complaining about.”

Reporter

“There are a lot of complaints from the public that teachers noh di work right now.”

Tanya Flowers-Gillett

“Trust me teachers are working because being around a computer practically all day and then you have after three as well where you have to meet with students. Teachers are working out here. We are not physically in the classroom, but we are working at home.”

But are teachers being unreasonable? Prime Minister John Briceño has gone on record to say that the teachers and the public service have not made any sacrifices as a result of the pandemic. Going forward he says there are only two choices: “either the unions tell us to reduce the amount of government workers or they will take a pay cut.”

Reporter

“How far is the B.N.T.U. willing to go because the government is not backing down?”

Senator Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.

“Do you know B.N.T.U.? You know our union right?”

Reporter

“I am not sure if this government knows B.N.T.U.”

Senator Elena Smith

“Well I think they do know us because in 2005, I think they were in power when we were out there. So they should know us and they should know what it is that we stand for and how much and how far we are willing to go.”

Following a number of budget consultations between the government and the union, the B.N.T.U. devised a plan of action. The motorcade is the first activity.

Senator Elena Smith

“Along with the wearing of the shirts…when teachers go to school, we ask that they wear their shirts on the days that they report to school so that the public can have a visual that listen B.N.T.U. is standing up and we are slowly progressing as we get into our activities. So it is a first step in terms of say coming out publicly, but as matters progress, as we hear from the government and as we get feedback from them, then we will then meeting again and looking at what will be the next steps.”

Elena Smith

Among the many signs posted on vehicles were the teachers reminding the government that they need to legislate the UNCAC, cut down on ministers’ allowances, reduce C.E.O. salaries, legislate an asset recovery bills and revamp the tax system. According to National President of the B.N.T.U., Senator Elena Smith, the union has issued a counterproposal to the government and it awaits a response.

Senator Elena Smith

“We’ve submitted a counterproposal yes; we are having a press conference tomorrow morning at B.N.T.U. and that is where we will be releasing that information. We want to give the government a chance to at least get the document and do a review of it and then we will present that to the media tomorrow. Listen, everybody tries to appear strong at the beginning you know. It is when you get hit that’s when you realise how strong you are strong.”

Duane Moody for News Five.