Since Wednesday, the trials of George and Hirian Goode have become the stuff of legend. Since Wednesday, they started a determined protest at the corner of the Supreme Court yard and have not let up. She says she was wrongfully dismissed from her job as a school warden and must get a job to support her ailing husband and her children. They have been keeping up their vigil 24 – 7, he in the night, she in the day and the public reaction has been overwhelming. Today they took the protest to Belmopan for the house sitting, where Michael Finnegan told us that he has offered her a job for the same pay.
Hon. Michael Finnegan, Minister of Housing
“Charlie Goode is my friend for many many years and I have reached out to him to try to see if I could help him by offering a job to his wife and that is the situation.”
Jules Vasquez,
“So you have made a formal offer?”
Hon. Michael Finnegan,
“Yes of course “
Jules Vasquez,
“And how much are you offering, she was making $8,800?”
Hon. Michael Finnegan,
“The same thing, not a penny more, not a penny less.”
Jules Vasquez,
“So have offered and have they indicated if they’ll accept because I still seem them out here protesting?”
Hon. Michael Finnegan,
“I think Mr. Good wants to speak with the Prime Minister and I have made mention of it to him already and the Prime Minister is okay with speaking to him.”
Jules Vasquez,
“You had an exhausting weekend, I saw you out there on Saturday, I saw you out there on Sunday, and I know Charlie was there at night. Explain what you guys went through this weekend?”
Hirian Goode, Protesting
“Well as I said we still have to stand up against what they are doing
to us because it is not right. I am all burnt up but I think at the end of the day it will be worth it because still we haven’t gotten our job yet. Like what I told you Mr. Finnegan offered me a job but I need a job for she too, for Donna. She was with me two days straight, from Thursday she was out there with me and she has a young baby too and she has other kids. Yes I got a job but I need a job for she too because it wouldn’t be right if I took the job and then say I got my job and so I am going and then leave her there.”
Jules Vasquez,
“But you know that complicates things because they will argue you are moving the goal post.”
Hirian Goode,
“Yes I know they are trying to help me, I agree, but say like if me and you were standing up there, if you got a job, you would walk away and leave me there? it is not right. I can’t do it. I don’t if any other person can do it but I need a job for Donna. If anybody out there has a job for Donna, please call her, maybe she can give you her name and number. She really needs a job. Now me, I got a job now, but what happened to Donna.”
Donna, Needs a Job
“I don’t have qualifications like UB papers but most likely I can read and write and if anybody wants to offer me a job my number is 626-6969.”
Jules Vasquez,
“Which kind of job can you do, what kind of job are you looking for, who should hire you?”
Donna,
“Well I have my qualification in child care because I went through the Women’s Department and I did a course at the YWCA.”
After we spoke to Hirian Good, her husband Charles went into a meeting with Housing Minister Finnegan and the Prime Minister where it was agreed that both Hirian and Charles would be employed with the ministry of housing – but still no word on Donna Belgrave whose case is a little more complicated.
