ANRI students protest lack of electricity and water

Secondary schools throughout Belize have been receiving new computers, but one school in Dangriga wouldn’t even be able to plug them in if they got them. The Agricultural Natural Resource Institute, ANRI, formally known as Lynam College, has not had electricity for months, has no running water, no phone and no consistent means of transportation although they are only several miles from town. Today ANRI students and teachers protested the conditions they are operating under. In response, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Marcelino Avila, says the school is an area of concern and budget increases have been made to improve the capacity and quality of the education there. Avila says a project proposal, valued at about two point three million dollars, was approved by Cabinet in January of this year to provide the essential services, rehabilitate the buildings and implement proper field resources. Avila says Belize Electricity Limited told him it will cost three hundred thousand dollars for electricity to be installed. Media reports are that the students are refusing to go back to school unless something is done immediately. Some have also expressed concern at the firing of lecturer Cynthia Ellis-Topsey. She told News Five she believes she was fired because of her willingness to discuss the injustices faced by the students and staff and her affiliation with the United Democratic Party, U.D.P. Her termination letter, however, says her position had become “redundant” due to restructuring. The letter signed by Bridget Cullerton, Chairperson for the ANRI Board of Directors, further adds that there was, “non performance of duties assigned,” and “negative” behavior as documented by the former principal Carlton Valentine, as well as her desire to seek political office while a public servant. Ellis-Topsey says her “negative” behavior partly refers to a telephone call she made to the Minister of Natural Resources, Daniel Silva, after a technical assistant had been robbed at gunpoint on the campus. Referring to the non-performance of her duties, Ellis-Topsey says she was to make a presentation to the board on the night of December sixth but was told the meeting was cancelled. She says she later found out the meeting had in fact taken place. As to her political aspirations, Ellis-Topsey says she was seeking an executive position with the U.D.P. but this does not violate any P.S.U. regulations because she is an open vote worker under general workers rules. Ellis-Topsey has sought advice from her attorneys as well as the Public Service Union. In a press release, The U.D.P. condemned Ellis-Topsey’s termination and called on the government to take immediate action on rectifying the conditions at ANRI. The school has one hundred twenty-one students and ten teachers.