A Third Week for B.N.T.U.’s Industrial Action

Keisha Young

The Belize National Teachers’ Union will continue its industrial action into a third week, possibly matching the length of the 2005 strike called after then-Prime Minister Said Musa introduced tough economic measures. This time the issues are broader, encompassing both labour and good governance. At a press conference this afternoon in Belize City, B.N.T.U. president Luke Palacio maintained that it was the former that now drives the continuation of the teacher’s strike – and it is the Prime Minister who now holds the key to ending it.

Keisha Young, Executive Secretary, B.N.T.U.

“As we have always indicated, we at the Council of Management do not make that decision for the membership. So after that meeting, the intention was to inform our council of what transpired in that meeting and then council would go back and meet with membership to get a mandate from membership as to where we go next.”

Luke Palacio

Reporter

“So then are you all saying that the extension of the strike beyond Monday is due to the Prime Minister’s short notice postponement of this meeting?”

Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U.

“Obviously, that has to be the case at this time because we have from our membership; they said to us, we meet on Monday…depending on the outcome of Monday’s meeting, we’ll determine what happens next. The Prime Minister has decided that he wants to continue kicking this ball down the road; we are prepared to kick it down the road with him until he gets it right.”

The Union did not reveal its plans for Monday or Tuesday and its executive went into another meeting shortly after the press conference ended.