Last year, University of Belize students raised an uproar about an increase in fees. Government came to the rescue and beefed up the subvention to stave off those increases. But this year, it seems the hike in fees is back on the table. President of the Belmopan campus Arthur Lucas today told us more.
Arthur Lucas, UB Student President - BMP
"The government said that the fees would have remain the same but now they are saying that the fees will be increased by a whopping $410."
Jules Vasquez,
Isn't that the same thing that it was rumored it would be increased by last year?
Arthur Lucas,
"Yes sir, that's the same thing that was rumored would have had happened."
Jules Vasquez,
So now you're saying the increases are going into effect?
Arthur Lucas,
"We're saying that it has already been, it is already in effect starting from summer and into the following semester."
Jules Vasquez,
Are students able to afford this?
Arthur Lucas,
"Definitely not. We expect to see, if we don't have a positive result, we expect to see the population of UB diminish."
Jules Vasquez,
What are you all going to do to resist this if you say you can't afford it?
Arthur Lucas,
"Well we plan to call in on the media like you said. We plan to, with the support of the student body, have peaceful riots, protests, whatever to get our message to government that we cannot afford for the increase of fees."
We were unable to get comment from the University late this evening.
