The ante has been raised in the ongoing dispute between Belize’s labour movement and the government as the Christian Workers Union has joined the strike and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize has given Belmopan an ultimatum. That ultimatum says that if the demands for a rollback of new taxes and the granting of […]
Outside of the negotiating rooms the nation’s striking unions were busy keeping up the pressure…and the morale of their membership. Patrick Jones reports on what the teachers were up to today in Belize City. Patrick Jones, Reporting Symbolism was big at today?s B.N.T.U. rally as teachers held a mock funeral for all the things…and people […]
On Monday night, approximately two hundred and fifty members of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry attended a special general meeting to decide on their next plan of action. As a result of the discussions, three resolutions were passed: One, that the ten point reform package presented to the Government of Belize on November […]
The news this week–and on countless other weeks–has been full of violent crime; murders and shootings in particular. A few days ago we were visited by a man who is no stranger to the gun. But unlike his brethren in the hospital or cemetery this man had plenty of time to think about the culture […]
Schools across the country will remain closed on Tuesday as the nation’s teachers continue their strike. After exhaustive meetings over the weekend with no resolution of the impasse between government and the Belize National Teacher Union, president of the BNTU Anthony Fuentes says educators have decided to remain off the job pending further discussions aimed […]
Joining me now in studio is the president of the Public Service Union Dylan Reneau and George Frazer, General Secretary of NTUCB. I know you?ve been through a very long weekend. What is the proposal package in your eyes that you?ve presented to government? Dylan Reneau, President, PSU ?Well, the proposal package certainly covered all […]
As promised, it was back to the streets again for unionized workers and citizens agitating for financial reform, rollback of recent tax increases and the implementation of promised salary increases for teachers and government employees. Today’s action was led by the Public Service Union which held rallies and marches in Belize City, Orange Walk, San […]
In a related bit of news, we take note of the sudden disappearance from the scene of NTUCB general secretary, George Frazer. Frazer, who for years has been the public face of organised labour in Belize, was last heard from in an interview Thursday morning on Love FM. In that interview he offered an optimistic […]
It represents the vast majority of government employees countrywide, and after more than a week of hard talk, the Public Service Union is walking the walk. In a press release issued this afternoon, the PSU stated that it has: “noted government’s apparent inflexible position and therefore in strong solidarity with the National Trade Union Congress […]
But after late afternoon proposal by the Government of Belize, it appears that the hardliners in the Belize National Teachers Union may be softening their stance. News 5 understands that GOB has put back on the negotiating table the same offer that it shot down on Tuesday when the unions suggested it. The terms include […]
In related news, the Belize Medical and Dental Union, which represents employees from the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital and district hospitals has announced plans to take industrial action. As an essential service, the doctors and nurses say they will continue to provide adequate health care, however the BMDU says, “in solidarity with the present movement, […]
The rumor mill was working hard today, spewing various reports of planned strikes by Belize’s labour movement. But at newstime tonight, only one had proven true: as of one this afternoon Belize City’s water pipes went dry. According to Belize Water Services Limited, this morning their union informed them of a walk out call sent […]
But in the rest of the Belize District it was business as usual at most of the village schools. Teachers we spoke with in Gracie Rock say that while they are in full support of industrial action taken by their union, their presence in the classroom is for the sake of the children, especially those […]
Their meeting started at ten this morning in the cabinet room in Belmopan but it was not until three this afternoon that union representatives and the Prime Minister parted ways, their meeting ending in deadlock. Throughout the day, the word out of Belmopan was not good. Government sources indicate that the Prime Minister “had nothing […]
Belizean students are planning to state their position on the Musa administration’s budget on Wednesday by holding a rally and march through the streets of Belize City. According to representatives of the student bodies of the University of Belize and Saint John’s Junior College, the voices of the country’s youngest citizens must be heard amid […]
When we last checked in with members of the Belize National Teachers Union they were being dragged from the area in front of the National Assembly building following various acts of civil disobedience. Today, although no longer in Belmopan, they remained off the job. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has the story. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting Despite […]
And what of the future? We caught up with B.N.T.U. president Anthony Fuentes and he told us that his union will be meeting on Tuesday with the Prime Minister…but until a satisfactory outcome is reached, teachers will continue their boycott. Anthony Fuentes, B.N.T.U., President ?The strike will continue until they hear from the union representatives. […]
Whether you were in Belmopan to protest the government’s budget, support it, or just look on, there was no escaping the conclusion that much of what happened today in the nation’s capital was not pretty. News 5’s Janelle Chanona was on the scene until late this afternoon with cameraman George Tillett. Here’s what they saw […]
It was preceded by fears of violence and massive utility outages but day one of a planned two day national strike came off as a largely peaceful but determined protest against government financial mismanagement and the resulting increase in taxes. Today’s actions were spearheaded by teachers and unionised utility workers. Most public officers directly employed […]
The first hint that today was not business as usual came in the form of a lack of water pressure in Belize City and municipalities countrywide. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods visited B.W.S. headquarters this morning to find out what went wrong. Martin Greenhalgh, CEO, B.W.S. ?It wasn?t a surprise, it was fairly well publicise that […]
While the flow of water was affected as a result of the nationwide shutdown, other essential services like electricity and telecommunications remained unaffected. According to Belize Electricity Limited and Belize Telecommunications Limited, while many of their employees did not report to work, the two companies already had in place measures to secure their operations and […]
In a roundup of how the strike played out elsewhere in the country correspondents report that in San Ignacio and Benque Veijo about half of businesses were closed. In Dangriga and Orange Walk a majority of businesses closed their doors although banks remained open. In Corozal there were slightly more businesses open although, like in […]
Today in the capital city, preparations for the anticipated anti and pro government demonstrations on Independence Hill continued. Since Wednesday, government workers have been constructing formidable barriers as a part of the police crowd control strategy. This is in response to last Friday’s chaos during which the established police line was crossed several times by […]
The nation’s unions have finally decided on a response to Government’s new tax measures: their answer? A two-day strike that is intended to bring a halt to central government operations, close the schools and curtail access to water, electricity and telecom services. At the same time, Belize’s two main private sector organisations have called on […]
With government employees being asked to stay off the job over the next two days the question arises of what about essential services like police, fire and medical care. According to Public Service Union president Dylan Reneau, there is no reason for citizens to worry. Dylan Reneau, President, P.S.U. “Being a responsible union we have […]
