The B.N.T.U.’s strike got major support today from the region, the Caribbean Union of Teachers has written to the Prime Minister appealing to him to seek to bring an amicable resolution to the ongoing situation. According to the CUT the B.N.T.U. has been patient to ensure that the collective bargaining agreement process is preserved. In […]
As the strike continues into its seventh day; across the country schools remained closed. In the west this morning teachers met for an update on the evolving situation. Their mantra “We will not be moved” remains steadfast. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports. Isani Cayetano, reporting Teachers from across Cayo District assembled this morning in […]
Schools were also closed on San Pedro but it does not mean teachers were not engaged. This morning a sea of green overtook the island. Our friends at the San Pedro Sun have shared video of the teachers of the San Pedro High School in their peaceful march. They were joined by senior students and […]
There will be at least a sixth day of industrial action organized by the Belize National Teachers’ Union on Tuesday because Monday is a holiday. That is the news coming out of a day-long meeting of the Union’s Council of Management at their Belize City headquarters this afternoon. The Council convened following membership meetings in […]
Within a few hours of Luke Palacio’s statement, the Prime Minister responded. He wrote to the B.N.T.U. president saying that Palacio’s statement is a fig leaf. According to the Prime Minister, he has publicly issued several calls for a return to negotiations, including two days ago. He goes further to state that Palacio did not […]
So while they will be out of school once more, the teachers will not be idle. According to B.N.T.U. National President Luke Palacio, the teaching corps will be hitting the streets to continue their public education campaign and perform community service. Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. “We want to announce publicly that on Tuesday […]
Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred Elrington, speaking to reporters over the weekend following a meeting of the United Democratic Party’s National Party Council, made statements on the then-coming industrial action organized by the B.N.T.U. Among other things, he suggested that it was not the role of a labour union to involve itself in governance issues. […]
The Teachers’ Union also addressed the ongoing concern with the Roman Catholic management. Following a letter from Bishop Dorrick Wright addressing the strike plans, the Papal Nuncio visited Belize during which he expressed the view that Catholic teachers and students should go back to school. Executive member of the B.N.T.U. Council of Management Adelaida Guerra […]
As has been reported, the Belize National Teachers’ Union and Chamber of Commerce and Industry have been in dialogue concerning the ongoing industrial action. We will have more on the Chamber’s plans shortly, but as you’ll hear from President Luke Palacio, the two organizations will be meeting next week. Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. […]
A two-day workshop to train teachers in science education was underway today in Belize City. Fifteen primary school teachers from across the country were hard at work with micro science kits which they will be using for science education. Last year seven schools participated in the UNESCO Global Micro Science Project and the number was […]
The Belize National Teachers’ Union led its members in mass demonstrations countrywide today, on this, the fourth day of a called strike. The union isn’t letting up as it continues to challenge the Government of Belize to stop stalling on their eight-point good governance agenda and working out the deferral of a planned three percent […]
After a momentous four days, the Belize National Teachers’ Union is trying to catch its breath and decide on a way forward. What we know for sure tonight is that there will be a fifth day of industrial action on Friday. But are the teachers committed to continue the strike into next week, with a […]
As we mentioned earlier, the Belize National Teachers’ Union does have financial concerns, though there have been efforts made to raise donations in the community. The Union has a strike fund for contingencies but Kathleen Flowers says other members of the community are being asked to take up the slack. Kathleen Flowers, President, Belize […]
An example of the kind of pressure the teachers are facing beyond finances is the recent visit of Apostolic Nuncio to Belize and El Salvador, Archbishop Most Reverend Leon Kalenga. While officially here to discuss the failing health of the country’s chief bishop, Dorrick Wright, the Archbishop also weighed in on the ongoing strike, calling […]
Late this evening, the Roman Catholic Church stepped in line with the message from the Papal Nuncio. The Church says that they support the appeal for students and teachers to get back to the classroom. The release goes on to say that there are other means besides strikes that can be used to pressure the […]
Roman Catholic Archbishop to Belize Leon Kalenga as we said has called on the Roman Catholic teachers to go back to the classroom. He urged that the B.N.T.U. and the Opposition need to engage Government to end the strike and get the students back to school. Well, the Papal Nuncio’s words and visit didn’t sit […]
People’s United Party area representative for Lake Independence, Cordel Hyde, was one of several prominent politicians of the blue party to march in green with the teachers today. He is also one of two former Ministers of Education who participated – the other being Francis Fonseca. So we asked: how would he have handled this […]
“We shall not moved” – that’s what teachers were chanting in the streets of Orange Walk Town today. Hundreds donning their signature green Tees congregated in the Queen Elizabeth Central Park for speeches before they took to the streets. The parade through Orange Walk Town saw the participation of politicians and other public figures. News […]
The teachers of the Belmopan Branch took to the streets, like their counterparts countrywide, this morning in the center of the capital city. They lined up at the Belmopan Comprehensive School and marched around the Ring Road into Constitution Drive. In addition to the teachers there were some parents and even children carrying the Belizean […]
The strike by teachers continues in the headlines tonight, but for how long will the industrial action be sustained? One powerful organization that has not come out clearly in support of the Belize National Teachers Union is the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber is in a polling process to determine how its […]
But does the majority of Belizeans support the B.N.T.U.’s actions? That is a question more difficult to answer than to ask. There has been sustained pressure on teachers to return to the classroom from external sources, often including outright attacks on their motives from various corners, as well as internal pressure and personal doubt. Kathleen […]
Earlier in the news we told you about the B.N.T.U. march that brought out hundreds in Orange Walk Town. Politicians, activists and other public figures joined the teachers today, including Chairman of the Orange Walk Sugar Cane Farmers, Alfredo Ortega. The Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association issued a release throwing their support behind the B.N.T.U. […]
And if you missed the leader of COLA in the Belize City rally, it’s because he was in attendance at the Orange Walk parade. Geovannie Brackett said he was asked by teachers in the north to attend their march so he went out to show his support. In a lighter mood than we saw him […]
The teachers were certainly fired up at this morning’s Belize City rally; and so was Shawn Saldano. If his name sounds familiar, it is because you probably know him from the music track “I am Belize,” or as public relations representative for the Department of Youth Services, which is a Government department. But Saldano did […]
Foreign Minister Wilfred has expressed strong sentiments about the teachers saying it was not in their remit to take on national issues. But that statement is not shared by all those in government. Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber, on his appearance on Open Your Eyes, told us that he thinks that Elrington’s […]
