The Belize National Teachers Union today held its general membership meeting and elections for a new executive in Dangriga Town. It was a critical election for President Anthony Fuentes, who has been under fire from some sections of the membership, after being criticized for giving in too easily and too quickly to the government during the labor unrest in February.
The showdown started at midday when the general membership were called in to cast their votes and at the end a few hours later, it was a resounding victory for Fuentes who garnered 392 votes while his Belize City opponent Roque Mendez got less than one third of that at 109 votes.
Two other posts that were also contested were that of the secretary and the treasurer and where two more Belize City teachers were soundly defeated in their bids for those posts.
The defeats are noteworthy because the Belize City branch of the BNTU that was most militant and opposed to compromise during the 12 day school strike in January. Of course, as consolation, those still opposed to Fuentes can note that only 500 members, about 18% of the union's 3,000 strong membership voted in the election.
