The inaugural meeting of the Senate Special Select Committee to investigate the Immigration and Nationality Department was held this morning in Belmopan, on the heels of a special report by Auditor General Dorothy Bradley which exposes a hustle of visas, nationalities and passports. The first session, a portion of which the media was allowed to […]
Perhaps the most controversial representative of the social partners, Pastor Ashley Rocke, whose position on two occasions has angered the churches, declined chairmanship of the Senate Select Committee for fear of his personal well being and that of his family. According to the clergyman, he has received numerous threats in the wake of his contentious […]
When the chair could not be appointed, the focus of the meeting then shifted to an agreed process through which a budget will be created to finance the undertaking. At what cost will the senate investigation into the goings-on at the Immigration and Nationality Department during April 2011 and September 2013 come to taxpayers? It’s […]
While the Belize National Teachers’ Union will be meeting with the Prime Minister on Thursday, a press release issued today announces that, as confirmed by police, members and supporters of the United Democratic Party will be picketing outside the B.N.T.U. headquarters between eight-thirty in the morning and twelve-thirty in the afternoon. While the Union is […]
The strike by teachers continue in the headlines tonight and we can confirm that the B.N.T.U. remains unmoved. This Wednesday, there will be a seventh day of strike action by the Belize National Teachers’ Union. While the Union continues to maintain its demands for good governance, there is a window since the union is open […]
As we said there may be a resolution to the industrial action because just before six o’clock this evening, the Prime Minister responded to the Belize National Teachers Union in respect to a letter sent to the Prime Minister earlier today. In a more conciliatory tone, the Prime Minister clarifies that the basis for inviting […]
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 […]
Late on Friday evening, the Prime Minister upset the B.N.T.U. applecart by throwing into the mix the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. The PM wrote to both saying that in fact the N.T.U.C.B. has also taken up the good governance agenda and that negotiations should therefore include the umbrella organization. This morning we sought […]
We’re not sure what to call this morning’s march from Cinderella Plaza to the headquarters of the Belize National Teacher’s Union in Belize City. Was it a protest – when we counted far more police guarding the protestors along the route – approximately twenty, including Inspector of Police Fitzroy Yearwood standing guard in front of […]
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. […]
But the ongoing teachers’ strike has somewhat overshadowed the Select Senate Inquiry into the Auditor General’s Special Report on the Immigration and Nationality Department, for 2011-2013. But the issue is back to the front of the agenda of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The B.C.C.I. has been coming under pressure for appearing to […]
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 […]
