Earlier on, we told you about the BNTU's Council of Management's decision to allow teachers in Toledo, Stann Creek, Corozal, Orange Walk and San Ignacio go back into the classroom while teachers in Belmopan and Belize City wait until the general membership decides. The decision for some to go back while other stay out has left the Union divided and that sentiment was raw at the BNTU office in Belize City today. One teacher we spoke to called it treason.
Teacher #1,
"The leader for whichever union needs to understand that they need to come to their people for the people to determine whether they will accept or not because we elect leaders who are supposed to lead, not dictate to us. So our leaders cannot come and tell us we will take it, they need to get it, whether its from the Council of Management or from the individual members, but they need to get a response from whoever elected them first before they say so."
Teacher #2,
"I believe that this was a total agreement with the APSSM, the PSU, and the BNTU. One entity cannot decide what is going to happen. I am a teacher and I don't believe one entity can decide what is going to happen."
Alfonso Noble,
So are you prepared to go back to school tomorrow?
Teacher #2,
"I am not going to be prepared because we are in this thing together, all three of us are in this thing together. The government has effectively divided and conquered the entire thing. We know that teachers have been at the forefront of this thing and if teachers are going to back out of this thing then everybody is going to do the same. We are the ones that are bringing the pressure and supported by all other sectors of the business community."
Teacher #3,
"I believe that we were the stalwarts in this thing, we held this thing together and now our leaders without coming to the people are going to back out on us. Man that is straight treachery, treachery."
And there is some good news for those teachers who have loans with Belize, Scotia, and Atlantic Banks. The three banks have agreed to waive the teachers' loan repayments for the month of February. The Chamber approached the banks and the banks agreed noting the uncertainty teachers are facing with the collection of their wages during this period.
