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 […]
Not surprisingly, Elrington’s comments also struck a chord with the teachers. B.N.T.U. President Luke Palacio responded on Tuesday to the Minister’s commentary. Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U. “In relation to what the Foreign Minister said – typical of the party in government. They believe that they are the intelligencers of this country; everybody else is […]
On Wednesday afternoon, six persons were hauled to the Belize City Magistrate Court – charged in connection with the burning of tires on BelCan Bridge on Monday afternoon. COLA President Geovannie Brackett, Perry “Sticks” Smith, and Clayburn Pascascio were jointly charged for “Cause a Bonfire to be Set.” It is alleged that they paid twenty-three […]
Today, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin struck out the constitutional challenge brought by the People’s United Party of the Sarstoon Law. The statutory instrument, which was passed by the Government, prohibited Belizeans from going into the Sarstoon River under the Public Safety Act, and was essentially a measure to stop expeditions organized by the Belize Territorial […]
Back in May of 2016, PM Barrow in an interview with News Five said that, “the S.I. was to serve the limited purpose of ensuring that at the time the circumstances that saw us fear that we would not be able to protect the lives and limbs of the people who wanted to go to […]
For the second year in a row, an audio technician course was held at by the Institute of Creative Arts organized by Audio and Sound Technician Whitfield Welch. The program targets musicians and technical persons involved in the audio industry. Over twenty participants, including eleven new applicants, learned about the basics of the audio, blending […]
October tenth is celebrated globally as World Mental Health Day. Belize has come a long way in recognizing the mental health needs of our society. But we continue to fight the stigma and discrimination faced by those with mental illnesses. Tonight on Healthy Living, we introduce you to one facility working to improve the lives […]
The most tragic of deaths—heartless and cold—is that of an innocent child being killed. That’s what happened on Tuesday night on Aloe Vera Street when an arsonist entered into the house of the Hamilton family and knowingly set the house on fire with seven persons, including four children inside. News Five’s Duane Moody reports. Caroline […]
On Monday afternoon, an eerily familiar scene unfolded on the Belcan Bridge in Belize City as burning tires blocked traffic and filled the air with thick, black smoke. Unlike the scene we’ve seen in the past though, this protest blaze was short-lived. Firefighters extinguished the blaze within minutes and police detained several persons for questioning […]
The two minors charged along with twenty-three year old Adrian Avaloy for setting the tires on fire are participants in the Youth Apprenticeship Program that is coordinated by Dianne Finnegan. Finnegan was also at the magistrate’s court this afternoon as the trio was arraigned for the offense. Visibly upset, she called out Brackett and Smith, […]
While Finnegan called out Brackett, Brackett’s attorney – Kareem Musa – who is also the area representative for the Caribbean Shores called out the police. He says he’d like to see the same level of effort from police when going after white-collared criminals as they did with his client. Kareem Musa, Area Rep., Caribbean […]
Today is being celebrated as World Teachers Day. But, for the teachers in Belize, it’s day-three of their strike action as a part of the Stand Up for Belize Campaign. The day passed fairly quietly. Schools, for the most part, were closed. But the teachers were not idle. Across the country they were out on […]
The Teachers’ Union believes its message can be better spread to the community. So today, the men and women usually found in their classrooms were out on the pavement across the Old Capital. They spoke to any and everyone they met, and according to their branch president, found their message well-received. Kathleen Flowers told us […]
On Tuesday evening, the three unions representing public utility workers – the Communication Workers’ Union, the Energy Workers’ Union and the Water Services’ Workers’ Union—met in Belize City to discuss the activities of sister union the Belize National Teachers’ Union. As you might guess, they are in support. But how much was not yet determined […]
The Belize National Teachers’ Union wrote to the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday requesting their support for a shutdown of businesses on Thursday. According to the Union, they have done their part to issue the challenge to Government, and now they are asking the private sector to join in. But according to […]
Meanwhile the Chamber has reacted to G.O.B.’s announcement to sign the United Nations Convention on Anti-Corruption on December ninth. The B.C.C.I. says it supports Government’s plans to sign the UN Convention and other requested reform measures need not wait. These include the appointment of the thirteenth member of the Senate from among the N.G.O. community, […]
On Monday, we showed you the students of Muffles Junior College protesting in solidarity with their teachers. It was a rather interesting dynamic, as many have criticized teachers about abandoning classes and interrupting their students’ education to participate in the strike. We found a similar scene today in San Ignacio when News Five Andrea Polanco […]
On Tuesday, the B.N.T.U. sent a letter to Reverend Bishop Dorrick Wright expressing their support for him and in turn thanking the Reverend Bishop for his support of their strike action. In the letter, the B.N.T.U. also asked to meet with the Bishop to discuss allegations that there has been a request to remove him, […]
On Tuesday, Chief Justice Kenneth Benjamin, who, in August, authored the historic decision on Section Fifty-three of the Criminal Code of Belize, denied the application for leave to appeal made by the National Evangelical Association of Belize, who wanted to join the case as an interested party. The Chief Justice refused Anthony Sylvestre, holding brief […]
The Government, represented by the Attorney General, initially chose not to appeal the decision at all, provoking fierce reaction from Belize’s more conservative elements. It was only after some protest that it chose to go after a narrow point, the decision of the Chief Justice to agree that sex as defined in Belize’s Constitution and […]
