Sickout fizzles; teachers and students healthy for UB classes
Teachers at the University of Belize, the country’s largest and only national tertiary level institution, staged a sick-out across its campuses today. The organized absence from work succeeds a demonstration held at UB’s main campus in Belmopan last Thursday, during which members of the Faculty and Staff Association expressed concerns over the findings of a recent draft Payroll Audit Report. Despite encouraging employees of the university to stay at home on the pretext of illness, it appeared as business as usual as quite a number of teachers and students showed up for classes this morning. The Board of Trustees has issued a press release stating that the incomplete financial review requires management input and follow-up in order for the audit to be final and calls on the university community to avoid making a premature conclusion. News Five spoke with UB’s Public Relations officer Selwyn King earlier today.
Selwyn King
Selwyn King, Office of Public Information, University of Belize
“At this point in time they are receiving bits of information coming in from each campus. In Belmopan I can speak of clearly that we have had quite a number of classes that have been engaged. In Belize City I suspect basically, based on the last report that we have received, we may have had maybe about fourteen classes which have been affected. In PG we have just a small number, no more than two or three. Central Farm Campus, we are still awaiting word to hear from them but in Belmopan we can safely say that basically we have had quite a number of classes that have been taking place.”
Isani Cayetano
“What is the current state of affairs in so far as those who are in a position to either effect change with regards to the situation with the faculty and staff and the board of directors?”
Selwyn King
“Well, the president, if you notice we sent out a statement yesterday to the media, stating in terms of what the president is doing to try to ensure that this too shall pass in terms of what we are faced with. So all parties are engaged in discussions out there. We again, we are supposed to have a meeting sometime this evening. I guess the board is having a meeting along with the minister, who will be attending, Minister of Education Patrick Faber will be attending that meeting. One has to recall that you have the faculty and staff representative, as well as the student government representative they are part members of the board so they will also be attending that meeting. So we will be looking forward to dialogue by all stakeholders who have the best interest of the university [at heart] to move forward.”
When you have a bunch of cowards how can anybody say they have UB interest at heart? Next time make sure no information is shared or circulated to people who will stand up and complain. This govt and cronies are not about good governance or supporting its citizens so if you a coward lay low and dont try to stir up anything. Learn to accept that the leadership is for itself only and not for the rest of us.
It’s all public money that is being misspent, and it will continue to be misspent EVERY DAY until the report is opened to the public.
I assume Dr. Fraser’s plan is to hide the audit for as many years as possible, until he is gone or we forget. It’s the old game plan of corrupt officials, and he’s making himself look like one.
Why do we need to wait for “management input”? If there is theft and misappropriation, it is surely management who did it.like all Do you let the thieves alter the books or destroy the records to cover their trail?
This seems like the KHMH audit and every other public audit all over again, stall, stall, stall until nobody can go to jail for it. Then fill the cookie jar with more taxpayer money, and start the theft all over again.
VERY DISAPPOINTED IN DR. CARY FRASER. This is his call, and he made the crooked one.