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Late last Thursday evening, upon emerging victorious as the new president-elect, Senator Elena Smith best described those moles as only she can. Having spotted the so-called U.D.P. operatives at the convention, Smith told reporters, “that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it must be a duck.” While Palacio seconds […]
Written on April 25, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Union Says Everyone was Watching Operatives at Work
Minister of Education Patrick Faber told reporters on Monday that a final figure and number of teachers who would qualify for the honorarium being offered by the Ministry of Education for work done during the eleven-day strike period last October and the four days allocated for make up in January has not been determined. But […]
Written on April 25, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Faber Says Striking Teachers Would Also Benefit from Honorarium
So how will Faber be able to access monies from government’s coffers? It’s a question or a notion that Palacio scoffs at, since he’s all too familiar with how that financial system works. Luke Palacio, President, Belize National Teachers Union “It is so unfortunate, those of us who are aware, have some knowledge of […]
Written on April 25, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Palacio Says G.O.B. Cannot Return to Previous Monies for Honorarium
The Minister of Education considers it a point of pride that at least he is not being accused of ‘stealing’ the honorarium money, even drawing comparison to the infamous ‘Corozal Pibil Party’ of a few years ago. He also concedes that the Government, having received the approval of the Ministry of Finance could have called […]
Written on April 25, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on G.O.B.’s Moves on Honorarium ‘Not Necessarily’ Illegal
The issue of the million dollar bonus for non-striking teachers is one that refuses to go away, particularly since the union believes that it will have a negative impact on an already strict 2017 budget. B.N.T.U. President Luke Palacio says that Faber is purposely confusing an honorarium with a salary. Luke Palacio, President, Belize […]
Written on April 25, 2017 | Posted in
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In responding to comments made by Faber on Monday, Palacio says that the Minister of Education is spinning the truth by accusing the union of disrupting the ministry’s attempts to complete the scheduled make up time for teachers. Luke Palacio, President, Belize National Teachers Union “The other misleading thing that the minister has attempted […]
Four students were selected for five hundred dollars scholarship each by Rise Up Belize. The non-profit based out of California was started by Joey Garcia who was born in Belize, but has lived in the U.S.A. Rise Up Belize offers free professional development workshop for primary school teachers in Belize. The organization later expanded its […]
Written on April 25, 2017 | Posted in
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Today, in line with its early childhood development campaign, the Government of Belize in collaboration with the European Union officially inaugurated three preschools in the Orange Walk and Corozal Districts, namely San Jose, San Pedro and Trial Farm villages. A ceremony was held at the facility at the Trial Farm Government School in Orange Walk. […]
The million-dollar bonus to be provided by the Ministry of Education to non-striking teachers during the eleven-day strike last October and the subsequent attempt to make up days lost in the classroom in January remains on the table tonight. Minister of Education Patrick Faber came out swinging against his opponents on the issue today on […]
Even though the money was paid after the start of the financial year, the minister claims it was taken from the previous financial year’s Budget. But it is known from accounting practices in the Government system that that is not typically how it works. The minister claimed to be disappointed that the press and the […]
Written on April 24, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Education Minister Makes Case for Honorarium, Hits Back at Critics
The minister acknowledged that he was in something of a catch-twenty-two situation, facing the wrath of unionized teachers who feel he has disrespected them, and the expectation of teachers who did not stand with their brothers and sisters that he would come to their rescue. But Faber contends that he has done the right thing […]
Senator Elena Smith will assume office in July as president of the Belize National Teacher’s Union, after a hard-fought victory in the national convention in San Roman, Corozal last week. She will be the third female in the post after Helen Stuart and Linda Bennett. Over the weekend, Minister of Education and Deputy Prime Minister […]
Written on April 24, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Minister Congratulates Elena Smith, Scorns Luke Palacio
We know for sure that the minister didn’t drop in at Escuela Mexico in San Roman. But his driver was seen around the area along with at least one other operative and the minister was said to have met with teachers in Corozal before the convention took place. But Faber denied it all and maintained […]
Written on April 24, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Deputy P.M. Insists He Stayed Out of Alleged Interference in B.N.T.U. Convention
World Earth Day is a global celebration to highlight and show appreciation for our natural environment. One primary school in Belize City used the occasion to show how trash can be recycled into artwork of the local wildlife; and in the process, the school compound got a facelift. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Duane […]
Written on April 24, 2017 | Posted in
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The Ministry of Health is hosting a two-week “Care for Child Development National Trainers Workshop” in Belize City. The focus of the seminar is to enable personnel from the Ministries of Education, Health and Human Development to help parents and others to connect with young children three years and younger before they start school. News […]
Written on April 24, 2017 | Posted in
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Senator for Trade Unions and Civil Society, Elena Smith, is president-elect of the Belize National Teachers’ Union. She defied the odds following allegations of tampering and interference in the executive election of the Union unseen in its half-century-plus long existence. After a delay by the Council of Management to investigate the interference allegations, the vote […]
Written on April 21, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Elena is B.N.T.U.’s leader after dramatic day in Corozal
The impromptu Council of Management meeting that delayed elections also forced the Belize National Teachers’ Union to postpone the hearing and voting on five resolutions presented to the Annual Convention. Discussion eventually took place during the counting of votes. Of the five resolutions two were voted down, both related to financial matters. Of the approved […]
Written on April 21, 2017 | Posted in
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As we told you Senator Elena Smith is the new President of the B.N.T.U. After approximately two and a half hours of voting, almost that much in counting and several moments of angst, the Belize National Teachers’ Union has elected Elena Smith as president. She won with a majority of the vote in a three-cornered […]
Written on April 20, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Senator Elena Smith Emerges Victorious as BNTU’s New National President
But before the announcement of the winner, the B.N.T.U.’s Council of Management had to grapple with a problem unprecedented in its history – the prospect of alleged political interference tainting the vote. For that reason, it brought business to a halt for much of this morning as it deliberated. Discussions were heated, and reports from […]
Written on April 20, 2017 | Posted in
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Today’s convention of the B.N.T.U. saw an appearance from two Belize City activists, Geovannie Brackett of COLA and Raymond Rivers. The Union has had a cordial, if arms’ length, relationship with Brackett’s organization. But while reporting that COLA has a particular preference, Brackett told us that their primary function in San Roman was to observe […]
Written on April 20, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on COLA and Raymond Rivers Lend Moral Support to BNTU
As part of the mediation agreement agreed to in February, the Belize National Teachers’ Union agreed to release its teachers to make up lost class time due to the October strike for the first three days of the Easter vacation, and the first three days of July. While it seemed that most schools were already […]
Written on April 20, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Teachers Honor First Leg of Make Up Time
The Belize National Teachers’ Union Annual Convention began today at Escuela Mexico in San Roman. But on Thursday, stakes are high with the election of a majority of its National Executive. The Union is electing a new president to succeed the tried and tested Luke Palacio as well as a first vice-president, secretary and treasurer. […]
Written on April 19, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Outgoing President issues warning on interference as B.N.T.U. opens convention
In his statement at the Convention, national president of the B.N.T.U. Luke Palacio made reference to the “stories” he, his Executive and teachers generally have heard in the past few weeks. It is that Government operatives are organizing against Senator Elena Smith, the considered favourite in Thursday’s election. Union members have already been told to […]
Written on April 19, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Attempts to influence election are “threat to democracy,” says Luke Palacio
Nominations were officially tendered for the election as of a month ago but were officially submitted this afternoon to the chair of the Election Committee, Kathleen Flowers. Flowers is B.N.T.U.’s second vice president and president of the Belize District Branch, where presidential candidate Elena Smith is from. Campaign speeches will be made early on Thursday […]
Written on April 19, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.N.T.U. will keep close eye on Thursday’s proceedings
The Gang Resistance Education And Training (GREAT) Program is a violence prevention program. The program is being used to fight delinquency, youth violence, and gang involvement through school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom courses. Over thirteen thousand Police officers from across the U.S. and Central American countries have been trained and certified. Belize is one of the […]
Written on April 19, 2017 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Teaching the GREAT program to police from Belize, Salvador
