Will Papal Nuncio’s Declaration Sway Teachers to Return to School?
An example of the kind of pressure the teachers are facing beyond finances is the recent visit of Apostolic Nuncio to Belize and El Salvador, Archbishop Most Reverend Leon Kalenga. While officially here to discuss the failing health of the country’s chief bishop, Dorrick Wright, the Archbishop also weighed in on the ongoing strike, calling for Catholic educators to return to school along with their students. Is that word from “on high” leaving the B.N.T.U. quaking? While the nuncio did not meet with the B.N.T.U., the branch president of the Belize District B.N.T.U. chapter, Kathleen Flowers, says they will be speaking to their teachers about his statement.
Kathleen Flowers, President, Belize District Branch, B.N.T.U.
“That’s a question you would have to go to them and ask them in terms of the authority that has been brought in. But on the ground, we have not been feeling any immediate ricocheting of that amongst our teachers. But to be honest, we have not done any polling of them to feel their vibes as to what has been said. But it is a question that we will need to address with them because we know that at the end of the day, these very teachers have to go back to work with these same managements. So it is something that is on the top of our agenda to address and that will be done so in due order.”
Meanwhile, Maria Zabaneh, a known representative of Bishop Wright’s office, delivered a solidarity message at the Belize District rally. This evening she clarified that she spoke on behalf of herself and did not represent any religious organization.