43rd annual B.N.T.U. Convention
The forty-third annual convention of the Belize National Teachers Union concluded today in the capital where in late January, by the thousands teachers showed their muscle in respect of a long overdue salary adjustment. The two-day event was held under the theme, “B.N.T.U., Overcoming Challenges, Embracing Opportunities in Education” and over two hundred teachers from all ten branches of the union came together to discuss concerns and issues affecting their profession. Among the myriad of issues dealt with was Belize/Guatemala territorial dispute; the current executive also received the endorsement from the floor. News Five spoke with first vice president of the B.N.T.U., Adelaida Guerra on the progress of the convention.
Adelaida Guerra, 1stVice President, B.N.T.U.
Adelaida Guerra
“We have our annual convention usually at this time after Easter vacation. We have a two day convention—it started yesterday and today is the final day. We still have business sessions to do, which has to do with the reading of reports. We have resolutions that are going to be taken today. I am not sure how many resolutions we have right now. We also have the endorsement of officers of the B.N.T.U. We were supposed to have elections, but we didn’t have any challengers for the four posts, so basically it is four people who are at the post right now who will be endorsed so that will happen later on. Something was brought up about the collective bargaining agreement but that will also be discussed later on today. And the question and answer section which is very important for our teachers where they will put in their questions and we have to provide them with the best answers that we have. So that will come up later on today too. Day two we had a panel discussion on the ICJ. We had three panelists basically giving their perspective on the ICJ. It is not telling our teachers to vote yes or no, but just to educate them and then they are going to make their decision when the time comes.”
