Teachers weigh in; say corruption is corruption

Fausto Augustine

Did Edmond Castro cross the line when he used his authority as Minister in charge of the Belize Airports Authority to get his hands on public monies? Prime Minister Dean Barrow says he didn’t, at least not legally. But legalese aside, corruption is corruption, and the court of public perception has already judged Castro fit to stand trial. Today, News Five spoke to educators from the Cayo District to get their opinion on the matter.

FOR VIDEO CLICK HERE: TEACHERS ON CORRUPTION

Fausto Augustine, Retired English Teacher

“That is, that is…mien you can’t change the name. That’s corruption.”

Mike Rudon

“So you think the prime minister is wrong when says that it is just bad, but it is not corruption?”

Fausto Augustine

“I think the prime minister is just playing on the intelligence of the people. To say it is not corruption and it was whatever he said, there is no denying about it. That is corruption.”

Juan Alas

Juan Alas, Teacher, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Belmopan

“What do you mean it is not corruption? If I was to take some money from my school, guess where I will end up? Jail. But guess what? They feel like they are the big fish. And prime minister he wants to defend it as much as he can because he knows if he loses Penner and Castro, they’ll go down the drain. So he is going to do anything possible to keep them there. But that’s corruption to the highest level.”

David Cobb

David Cobb, Principal, St. Joseph’s School, Duck Run II

“Well if you look up the meaning of corruption and its using monies or funds for your private or for your own personal use, it is definitely corruption. There is no way…even the common person would know that something is wrong there. And it is corruption regardless of what you want to say. And this thing of trying to cover up for people will not help our dear prime minister. I don’t know how long he will continue to do this. He did it with minister Penner and now he is doing it again with another minister? No come on this has to stop.”

Delthia Perez

Delthia Perez, Teacher, Belmopan Comprehensive School

“For me, I am just an ordinary person; I’m just a teacher. But I know the definition of corruption is when you accept or take something that doesn’t belongs to you and in this case, the cheque, Minister Castro had no right to those monies and he was given it and he accepted. So that is wrong.”

Anita Castellanos

Anita Castellanos, Teacher, Mount Carmel Primary School

“I think it’s corruption; I think it is plain and straight corruption. He used the word distasteful and out here everyone is saying that is the new meaning for the word corruption…distasteful. But in my sentiment I think it is corruption because that is money for the government, for the people, so why is he using that as a personal way? We saw the copies, everybody saw the copies. It is made out to some funeral home, to Bowen and Bowen. I think that is plain corruption.”

Annette Pech, Teacher, St. Matthew’s Government School

Annette Pech

“Last night I saw on Channel Five that they gave a definition of corruption. I think that is one of the things that they need to go and look at; what does corruption mean. And I love what the lady from Chamber of Commerce…she made a comment as well. They are being trusted with the funds from us, from the people who work. They don’t just make this money like that. It is the people’s pocket, purse that they are spending money from and it is unfair and it is unjust because for you and your children. If they are cheques written out for your children…mien, I try to raise my children to understand if you don’t work for something and you get it in an appropriate way, it is stealing. We teach that in the classrooms. Touching something that isn’t for you is stealing.”