He's the incumbent president but BNTU boss Anthony Fuentes is going on study leave and elections will be held this week to see who will replace him. The event is the BNTU annual convention and the candidates for president are Elena Smith of Belize City and Jaime Panti of Cayo. Elena Smith told us why BNTU needs her leadership.
Elena Smith, Candidate for BNTU President
"Sure I am looking forward to stronger leadership. We need to be out in the forefront, we need to be representing the teachers but the community at large because all issues that we are facing as a nation, those issues affect us as teachers too and so we need to have somebody who is going to be able to stand up. Come what may, that person is going to be able to stand up and fight for the cause of our nation."
Jules Vasquez,
In fact stand up is all you do, you don't want to sit down and negotiate. 'You always want to war,' how do you respond to that criticism?
Elena Smith,
"I do not see myself as someone who always wants to war because when I go to my teachers I get feedback from them: 'what is it that you want, what do you think that we should be doing as members of BNTU.'"
Jules Vasquez,
We know that many of those in the education establishment have over the years been uncomfortable with your style of leadership, particularly this branch is one of the strongest and the greatest numbers. Are you concerned that many in high places may think of it as bad news that Elena Smith is thinking about ascending to be president of what is considered to be the most powerful union in Belize?
Elena Smith,
"I think on the contrary they should feel proud that someone will be there to put checks and balance in place because I am not there to go against them but if I need to and if the teachers want me to and if we want to as a union then we will do so regardless of what they say."
The convention starts tomorrow at the Novelo's Convention Center in Cayo and the election is on Thursday. We'll tell you how that goes.
