COLA’s Geovannie Brackett Appears in Orange Walk March
Geovannie Brackett
And if you missed the leader of COLA in the Belize City rally, it’s because he was in attendance at the Orange Walk parade. Geovannie Brackett said he was asked by teachers in the north to attend their march so he went out to show his support. In a lighter mood than we saw him when he was in police custody on Wednesday, he joked that there was less police heat in the north. Here’s what he said about his support for the strike:
Geovannie Brackett, President, COLA
“Well, it seems that there is a lot of Police heat in the city, so I said let me come out here. Friends from up this side and friends from across the country were inviting me, so I said I have to decide where I want to be, right? So, I said I will leave the city for the GSU. And come up here and give support to the teachers’ branch here in Orange Walk. I think that I love what I am seeing. It is a very good showing and I am up here basically to show support. What the Government is trying to do is to muzzle me and that will not work. I will come out and show my support for the teachers.”
Andrea Polanco
“Okay, so why Orange Walk? We know they are known for burning tyres, is that why you are up here today?”
Geovannie Brackett
“Maybe that is why they gave me the most calls. But I am not saying that. I came up here not about burning tyres you know, it is more about the message. What the teachers are requesting and asking for is just cause. To me all the eight amendments and the three percent are what the teachers deserve and what the nation deserves. I am out here to say that COLA is strong. Our COLA members are in Belize City and we have COLA members all across the country, as well.”
Andrea Polanco
“Okay. Geovannie, we have heard criticisms that COLA has been infiltrated by the PUP. That you guys are being influenced by partisan politics. Is that why you are out here today?”
Geovannie Brackett
“Well, that was said to us right before the election. And right after election, our advocacy continued when the Guatemalan President came and it continued up to now. I believe that is just a propaganda, just like what the Government is doing saying that Luke Palacio is PUP. Anybody who shows strength against the Government and pose a righteous threat against the Government, but we are by no means, we have members who are U.D.P. and P.U.P. As the president, when I have an idea, I have to lobby each of my membership to get a unanimous decision.”
Reporter
“Are you getting paid to be out here today?”
Geovannie Brackett
“How much you think it would cost to come out here- to catch a bus and suh?”
Reporter
“I don’t know how much your support is worth?”
Geovannie Brackett
“No. We don’t get paid to come out here. We have never been paid to be a part of these things. To me that is just foolish. To come out to be paid to support teachers; the teachers are asking for money. I don’t think they got that much money.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, you were asked by teachers and not politicians to be out here today?”
Geovannie Brackett
“Most definitely.”
