University of Belize students bitterly opposed it, but it seems government is going ahead with plans to build a $40 million technical and vocational school on the old Belize Technical College compound. We say it seems so because in the past three weeks, workmen have dismantled four buildings on the Technical Campus - which is where UB's School of Engineering program is based.
UB's President Dr. Corinth Morter Lewis promised students that before any work started, they would be shown a memorandum of understanding between the school and the Ministry of Education. That MOU should have laid out how UB and IT-VET would share the Technical Campus. But three weeks into demolition, the students have not seen any MOU and they are asking questions. We today spoke to student activist Moses Sulph and Dericia Castillo, an engineering student.
Moses Sulph, Student Activist
"At this time it is kind of unclear to us as students what's going on. All we know is that things are moving."
Keith Swift Reporting,
You are an engineering student, you attend the Technical Campus, buildings right next to where you attend class are being torn down. What do you know is happening or what is your concern?
Derecia Castillo, UB Engineering Student
"At this point we know nothing much. We only know the information that we got from the previous meetings with our President, Dr. Corinth Morter Lewis, and we were informed that before an MOU was signed, or when the MOU was signed, we would be informed about any changes made on our department and three buildings
have been torn down and we have one that's in the process of being torn down. Our major concern is why aren't we being informed that the MOU has been signed or if the MOU had already been signed.
Students have been informed that our teachers will be given scholarships to study this August, that's next semester that is coming, and we have not been informed about any teachers substituting their places. So we have pre-registration week this week and we don't know if we'll be having classes August that's coming. So that is our major concern: do we have teachers to teach us and why are the buildings being torn down without us being informed about an MOU being signed."
Keith Swift,
Is there a fight still left in this? Do you believe you can still fight this?
Moses Sulph,
"Yes I do believe that. As I said, if we won't benefit from it then there's no reason why we can allow that to happen if there is not an agreement whereby we will be put an adequate location and have the same facilities that we used to have or something like that. Basically we just want to know that the program won't be shut down and also at the same time that the students will be able to continue learning engineering and the engineering program is not destroyed in this country."
Derecia Castillo,
"We know that we have the power as the students to make certain things happen but at this point it seems a little hopeless seeing as how our Belizeans are already being torn down and that we the students are there, its like a slap in the face - they are not giving us the respect that we deserve as students. So we haven't backed down to say but we have withdrawn from the situation, seeing as how we are at the end of a cliff."
Our calls to University of Belize President Dr. Corinth Morter Lewis were not returned. Incidentally, the University's student body will elect new student government leaders tomorrow. Former two time President Moses Sulph has thrown his hat back into the ring. He is going up against current President Rollin Powery and newcomer Moises Shoman. We'll let you know the outcome.
