As we've seen protests were today carried out countrywide but as this occurs, the Minister of Education Francis Fonseca yesterday told us that teachers should have gotten their pays docked for at least 5 of the 7 days of work that they missed. But despite that threat, today the teachers received their full salaries. Still, depending on how much longer this continues, their pay may be docked at some time in the future and to allay this fear, the business community has come up with a fund to help unionists on some rainy day in the uncertain future.
Lascelle Arnold,
"We understand there was an announcement saying that for the days that the teachers are striking they will cut their salaries so I said if we are with the teachers then we are supposed to support them."
Jeremy Spooner,
"We are businesspeople, founding members of the Association of Concerned Belizeans, so we had a little 'pass the hat around' yesterday and we came up with $2,500 and we made our presentation this morning to the unions."
Alfonso Noble,
Why is this important?
Jeremy Spooner,
"Its important because I believe, I don't know if its official, but I keep hearing that maybe they might not get paid for the time that they are off. They don't have a lot of money and they need money to help sponsor the demonstrations. Any demonstration in Belize is healthy and this is what everybody is saying is history. We have to be part of history and we have to help it continue because its healthy, it's going to bring about reform, and its going to bring about accountability and transparency."
Lascelle Arnold,
"Its easy to give out that kind of money now than paying taxes that they may be raising if everything goes through."
Anyone wishing to contribute to NTUCB Solidarity Fund at Belize Bank Account Number 695-2-20-20028328. The NTUCB will also be holding a solidarity concert and telethon on Sunday at the Memorial Park starting at ten. They will be accepting pledges at phone numbers 620-7100, 620-7101 or 620-7070.
