Although the BNTU requested their teachers return to the classroom today, for the most part teachers across the country remained on strike and students remained out of the classroom for the 12th straight day. Teachers from the Belize City branch, which abstained from voting yesterday joined in the NTUCB protest. The Belmopan Branch which also abstained from the vote yesterday met today in Belmopan and drafted a recommendation which will be presented to the BNTU's Council of Management at a meeting scheduled for tomorrow. The Belmopan Branch did not participate in the demonstration.
Teachers from all other 8 branches of the BNTU should have been back in the classroom today but reports suggest otherwise. In Cayo, upset teachers walked out of a meeting called by their Branch President this morning. And we are told that the teachers who did show up didn't have any students to teach as at one school only 15 students showed up. In Orange Walk we also got reports of no classes and the membership which participated in today's demonstration will be meeting tomorrow. In Punta Gorda some schools were opened but we are told those schools never did go on strike.
The General Manager of Catholic Schools Clemente Wade today via a press release asked principals to start making the necessary transition back to normal school days as of Monday February 7th. Wade notes that "children can be back in school while the negotiations between the unions and the government continues. Our children have been out long enough." The BNTU's official position is the teachers should return to the classroom however a council of management meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 11 where that will be discussed.
As for the utilities, BTL workers remain on strike and since yesterday, their main customer service center on Church Street has been closed. If are wondering about your water, Belize Water Services Limited says the planned shutdowns continue into the weekend and water will be cut at 8 tonight. It will be on again at 5 Saturday morning and to facilitate your washing etc. it will remain on until mid-day. At 4 pm the supply will be restored and there will be running water until 8 pm. On Sunday morning is the next time you will have running water and that will be from 5 to 9 am. The supply will be restored at 4 pm and there should be running water until 8 pm. BWSL says Sunday schedule will be maintained until further notice. They note that unlike the water supply, their offices continue to operate on regular working hours.
