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 […]
A man was killed by his brother in Orange Walk on Wednesday evening. Forty-one year old Ruben Cain, a labourer of Flamboyant Street, was stabbed in the chest by his brother during an altercation at home. Because it is a case of fratricide, the family declined a comment earlier today. Police have since arrested Cain’s […]
There was another vicious murder that occurred overnight. A forty-five year old woodcarver was gunned down in bizarre circumstances in front of his wife and teenage daughter in his native San Jose Succotz. Police are still chasing suspects and a motive in the murder of Luis Alberto Camal. According to reports, Camal was walking along […]
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 […]
