… But protest participants will lose day’s pay

In related news, today the Ministry of Education issued a press release asserting that all the teachers who participated in last Friday’s protest in Belmopan will lose a day’s pay. The Ministry maintains, “While teachers…have the right to take a stand on any issue…such rights must not be done at the expense of our children’s education. [It was]…made clear to the Belize National Teachers Union and all principals that no approval was being given to teachers to be absent…it is reasonable to suggest that those who are protesting on the basis of “principle” should be fully prepared to accept the consequences. It has always been and continues to be the unequivocal position that politics should play absolutely no part in the education of our children.” When News Five contacted B.N.T.U. President Anthony Fuentes this evening, he informed us that the union has arranged to meet with Education Minister Francis Fonseca early next week to discuss this issue. The loss of salary would be reflected in teachers pay cheques dated April twenty-seventh.