Charles and Hirian Good plan to sue the government
The saga of the Goods started on August third when Hirian Good lost her job as a school warden because she voted blue in the last general election. Hirian and her husband Charles, a retired B.D.F. captain who, in his day, went on jungle missions with MI-six and the C.I.A., staged a personal protest at the steps of the Supreme Court. That was the beginning of their ordeal that has now taken another dimension. Jose Sanchez has a report.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Captain Good was violently shoved by an officer and consequently hit his head on the pavement on August nineteenth, the first day of the protest. But before the day was over, he was off the drips from his hospital bed and back on the pavement with renewed vigor for another week’s worth of protest. The Good’s went to Belmopan to meet with government officials and they were offered jobs. This should have been their first week of work, but today they are still unemployed.
Jose Sanchez
“Why didn’t you take the job?”
Charles Good, Plans to Sue Government
“Good question. Foolish me, perhaps my foolish pride. Since this matter began on the third of August, my family and I have been enduring a series of suffering, both mentally and physically. I think we’re at the point of no return. The Minister of Education, the honourable Patrick Faber has shown no remorse or at least make amends in regard to the situation.”
Jose Sanchez
“Would an apology been enough from the minister?”
Hirian Good, Plans to Sue Government
“No. I no think so. Because to begin with, I never do nothing fi mek he take away my job and dah di way how ih do it. And I think he mi got enough time to come or at least call me and say “Okay I wah give you yoh job back.” But at the end of the day he had done this to a lot of school wardens and it’s not right. Ih noh right weh ih do wid all ah we.”
The Minister of Education offered no apologies so the Good’s offered none for the lawsuit they intend to file against his ministry.
Charles Good
“I think this matter should go to a court of law and let the court decide so these types of political victimizations cease forthwith.”
Jose Sanchez
“Who are you suing and what suing them for?”
Charles Good
“Well, I am suing the government of Belize so to speak.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is it the Ministry of Education?”
Charles Good
“Well, Ministry of Education.”
The outcome is uncertain for the unemployed couple who have four children in high school to support on a small pension. The Captain who once bared arms now carries faith.
Charles Good
“How we will survive so to speak, I leave that in the hands of the almighty God. It’s going to be tough. I get a little pension at the end of each month and I’ve already received that. So we will survive with the grace and the guidance and blessing of the almighty God.”
Jose Sanchez
“So it’s going to be a struggle from now.”
Hirian Good
“Yes, like weh my husband seh we wah fight it and God will see we through this. For the meanwhile, I will look for a next job somewhere else. With that and my husband pension, we wah put it together and we wah try mek it wid that. But first I have to look for the job.”
With the expense of four kids, some people may think the Good’s have gone too far; for others, they haven’t gone for enough. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
