B.N.T.U. President Says She Will Keep Union Issues Private

Ruth Shoman, the President of the Belize National Teachers Union, has broken her silence on the slew of criticisms that overshadow her presidency since taking office earlier this year.  One allegation is that Shoman was once charged for theft and forgery in an embezzlement case. More recently, she was accused of lying to the union’s Council of Management about being employed with the U.S. Department of State. This morning, Shoman took to social media to say “these past few months, I have been silent during all the attacks made on me. Today, as I sit to reflect, these questions flood my mind: why? How much more can I withstand? How are my children really coping? Is it worth it? How much more will the media hurt people without caring how destructive their need for ratings can be? What’s the agenda? So many misleading stories—will it ever stop? What is my purpose in this world”. This morning, we caught up with Shoman at an event in Belize City where we got an opportunity to ask her about the allegations being levied against her. Here is what she told us.

Ruth Shoman

Ruth Shoman, President, Belize National Teachers Union

“I said it on election day, BNTU is a private organization. Some individual and I don’t know who have decided to make it public. I won’t follow suit. BNTU is, I believe one of the strongest unions in our country and bringing things out and some, many a times misleading. Those who really love the union wouldn’t do that because BNTU is a private organization and I will keep it as that whatever issues are happening, are being addressed by the Council of Management, and that’s how it should be.”

Paul Lopez

“Would you say these individuals are anti-union or anti-BTNU?”

Ruth Shoman

“I’m not going to class. I’m not. In fact, I always say when I meet people; I think one of our biggest downfalls as human beings is that we put labels on each other. And the minute we do, we start dividing ourselves. I won’t do that. Everyone is entitled to their individual comment and their individual opinion. That’s, I think, a right that we have and we’re talking about rights today. And I have a right to say that the issues that surround me are private and we are addressing them and I just need my members to know that the work of the union is ongoing and they are at the forefront and they are what matter.”