Tertiary students seek positive action

Since the violence and destruction of April twentieth in the commercial capital, the silence from the student body governments of the University of Belize and Saint John’s College Junior College has been deafening. But this afternoon, U.B. and S.J.C.J.C. called a joint press conference in Belize City to “clear their name.” While admitting to leading protests that afternoon and staging a sit-in on the Belcan Bridge, the students say they have been wrongly accused of leading the looting and inciting violence to bring down the Musa administration. This afternoon, student government officials said they are officially disassociating themselves with the violent and destructive behaviour and will bring to the table recommendations for a solution to the national crisis.

Marissa Longsworth, President-Elect, S.J.C.J.C.
?We will have suggestions of more forums to educate the youth. We have our suggestions that we got by way of surveys in which the students made their personal suggestions as to what the government should do. And one of the main suggestions was of course to resign. But alongside that there are also suggestions of using forums, using forums, using educational channels to get to the students to make them know that they are wanted, they are needed, that they are part of Belize.?

Phillip Willoughby, UB Student Government
?We all share the same views, that?s why we are at this point where we are today. Secondly, we are pretty much concerned about the debt that the country is in. That is the main concern because we are the ones in the future, along with our children and grandchildren who would have to pay or sort of clear the bills of the government of the day, which they didn?t bring to us in the form of a referendum. Basically, they didn?t come to us with the mandate.?

?All students ought to be educated of the issues, participate in the processes, and in some way or in another kind of force the government to come clean by whatever means; non-violent though. Let?s do it constructively and responsibly.?

According to the students, plans are being finalized for the formation of a national tertiary level association which would include affiliation with regional institutions such as the University of the West Indies, in order to present a unified position from Belize’s student community on the state of the nation.