Trick Or Treat? Another Demonstration For B.N.T.U. On Halloween Saturday

Luke Palacio

The rally scheduled in Belize City for Saturday, October twenty-ninth, was intended to be a “thank-you” event in recognition of those who assisted the Belize National Teachers’ Union in their suspended eleven-day industrial action held earlier in the month. Instead of being a “treat” in honor of the Halloween weekend, however, teachers from across the country will be taking to the streets again to protest the alleged “tricks” of the Ministry of Education. B.N.T.U. President Luke Palacio tells us why.

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

“It was supposed to have been a support and thank-you rally, and you are right, but it is a demonstration now that we are not satisfied with how the Ministry or the Minister of Education in particular is trying to take advantage of our teachers, so we need to demonstrate that we are not satisfied with that, and that we – again, we need to understand that we are not doing anything illegal; in fact, the gains that the B.N.T.U. has made over the last period of time while we were undertaking our industrial action is to benefit all Belizeans.”

Reporter

“Is it the likelihood then, that if things do not go as planned, if the meeting does take place tomorrow, that you could actually extend that demonstration?”

Luke Palacio

“Well, remember when we made our statement that we said that we were only putting the strike on hold, so depending on what our membership decides moving forward, then yes, all things are still on the table.”

The rally begins right here in front of Channel Five on Coney Drive at nine Saturday morning and ends at the Memorial Park.