Government says no pay raise for teachers
Patrick Faber
On February third President of the Belize National Teachers’ Union, Jaime Panti called on the government to address the issue of their Collective Bargaining Agreement, accusing GOB of dragging its feet since 2008 and staggering the process. The fight is over an unfulfilled salary increase and Panti gave government a one week deadline to deliver or else the union would “take drastic measures”. Well the Prime Minister said publicly this morning that because of the recession, the government is not in a position at this point in time to pay the teachers’ salaries and emoluments that he said amounts to a hundred and twenty-two million dollars. Minister of Education, Patrick Faber, explained why the government can’t meet that obligation.
Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“I believe it is about a hundred and twenty-two million over the three year period for just the salaries and emoluments requests that the unions are making. Apart from that, there are other requests that I believe deal with things like medical insurance, things like different allowances that are given to public servants and teachers and so on. But just with salaries and emoluments we’re looking at a hundred and twenty-two million dollars over three years and that is what I believe the Prime Minister is responding to when he says we absolutely don’t have the money to do that. Despite the fact that we’re not doing as well as we would want to do financially, we have been able over the two years of this administration to stave off massive retrenchment or retrenchment of any format for that matter and cutting salaries and so on, all of that. We have been able to keep on the workforce as was the case when we took over government.”
Marion Ali
“But any further delay of their requests will only result in end up in an increase.”
Patrick Faber
“I don’t want people to walk away thinking that the union may necessarily be totally unreasonable. They will have to start at that high end I suppose because they understand that after negotiations we will find ourselves to a situation that is real. It is important to note that the dialogue is ongoing, that that process is moving and I will agree with the union leaders who have said that it is not moving as fast as it should be moving but there were complications; there were certain things that had to do with the costing of some of the requests of the union and that is why it was sent back. But the delay I’d say was caused by both sides.”
Why do teachers need a raise?! I agree that teachers as well as every other public servant deserves our governments best pay….if some of them are not getting it already…but in such difficult economic times…why would they be requiring a raise…when in fact our results at the PSE level in education is dismal and shows no positive signs for improvement. Teachers perform a very vital service to our nation, however, belt tightening requires us all to bite the bullet until such times is necessary. However, the Government on the same hand must be held entirely accountable for our tax dollars and MUST do everything to ensure that all monies are properly reported and adequately spent where absolutely necessary….enough with the waste…enough with the corruption…enough with the wanton misuse of our public funds and resources…..AND PEOPLE…PAY YOUR TAXES AND DEMAND THAT THE GOVERMENT USE IT WISELY FOR THE NATION.
Education should not only take place in the classroom but also at home. Question should be where are the parents who should be at home helping the children prepare for P.S.E. Teachers should receive a raise; not because they work hard or because they deserve it but because we would like them to know that we here in the public do appreciate them for what they are doing. Why else they need a raise have u JJ ever sat down in the classroom of a public school, I suggest you do! I’d like for you to see the everyday drama a teacher deals with and I promise you, as a regular citizen you would feel the same way I do. Much time and personal money goes into what they do then we have those parents who refuse to cooperate with them what do you expect to receive in return….
GOVERNMENT U WANT THEM TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES BUT DO U PAY THEM ENOUGH TO…..THINK ABOUT THAT
i prefer that all the money the government invest in their pocketsthat some should go to the teachers. they deserve a raise because they are the one who work productively in our society to produce intelligent belizeans that later on will make wise decisions for our country Belize
With a government that doesn’t show enough “bang for the buck” I highly doubt anyone would really consider it a shock that they are now in this type of economic situation. I agree that we should pay our taxes but if you seriously take a look at the real statistics the paying of taxes isn’t even half the problem rather it is the gross mismanagement of what has been collected. I have no trust in this administration because their excuses are lame and tired. It’s high time that they put themselves into a position to govern (not oppose) and govern well because you are collecting handsome salaries to do just that!
It is high time for us to stop living in this illusion that things are so much better than two years ago, they are certainly not. If anyone needs to do belt tightening it is the rogue and extravagant waste that these junior and senior ministers indulge in everyday. The excuses are always so quick, so many and so eloquent. Maybe if so much emphasis was spent on actually governing then we would move somewhere. It is the tasks of the people to make sure that their government doesn’t retard growth but rather it should do everything in its power to make positive contributions to growth.
I am sick and tired of the same excuses, the same reasons for ineffectiveness and the same type of government that only works for themselves (not even a few). Change is something dynamic though and when dealing with people’s emotions we could even say it is sporadic. So I hope our saintly p.m. and his spotless angels are not on too much of a lofty mountain looking at the peasants. For they will learn very quickly what change is all about. May God continue to protect Belize and rid it of all its tyrants!!!!
You guys have good valid opinions, but we have to take into considerations the value of education in a third world country. Many political scientists agree that education is key to the development of a country. It is known that when people are educated they can think beyond their basic needs, thus they start demanding their civil and political rights, maybe this is why the government does not want to put money in the education system. Maybe the government does not want people to know better to be able to make more demands or rebel against all the injustices they experience in their daily lives.
I would also want to know if the government officials have frozen their salaries. No one discloses how much government officials make or if they really pay their taxes. It would be interesting if they would go public and show it, they are public servants, we Belizeans are entitled to know.
Aren’t these the same teachers that were getting sprayed with pepper spray on the steps of the administration building in Belmopan? Aren’t these the same teachers that were abused by the police in Belmopan when the now Minister of education was being dragged away? aren’t these the same teachers that help this government get elected? Can someone please answer.
I haven’t receive a pay raise in 3 yrs. I know I deserved it but just being patient as I know my company is struggling to stay afloat. I live in an area where there is no electricity. Only running water. I work in the tourism industry where all the guests complains about the horrible bumpy roads and high gst they have to pay. I am the average person that have these in my palms. NOW IF I CAN TAKE A WAGE FREEZE FOR THREE YEARS I THINK TEACHERS CAN FOR A COUPLE YEARS. THIS UDP ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO INVEST MONEY INTO AMENITIES FOR THE AVERAGE PEOPLE, INTO INFRASTRUCTURE TO CREATE BETTER OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE INVESTMENTS. PEOPLE; THEY DONT CARE ABOUT US….ITS TIME WE START CARING FOR OURSELVES.