And, those student activists took the university of Belize to task for not respecting their choice to join the NTUCB in protesting against corruption and in the name of good governance.Â
We followed them from Belmopan to the city ands here is that story:
This morning as the NTUCB demonstration made its way down Albert Street there was a missing element. We saw mostly teachers, but what about the students?
Effective protests are usually galvanized by the student Union were nowhere in sight.
Our news team was surprised because the student union had issued a communique confirming its participation. But we were about to find out that it wasn’t for a lack of trying.
Yesterday the Ministry of Education sent out a memorandum granting a non-school day to government and government-aided schools. But this morning it was clear that the University of Belize hadn’t gotten the memo. One group of students at the Belmopan campus had a particular response.
Abbie Godoy Guillen - Secretary of Programming, Student Government UB
"We are currently trying to stage a walkout and we are taking students to the demonstration that is currently happening in Belize City. It was up to students to demand this demonstration. This is standing up against the corruption that has the most important thing in the world. When our student are indifferent it’s because of the way we’re being raised the way we’re being schooled we’re being taught not to stand up and fight we’re being taught to be afraid and that is one of the biggest problems. If we would tell our parents. Wouldn’t be afraid to skip class because they know that their working towards something greater than just a class. This is currently being chartered by the student government of Belmopan."
Student Union Vice-President, Kevin Chen, came to the city early and protested in solidarity with a group of teachers from San Ignacio.
Kevin Chen - Vice-President, NSUB
"These issues these social issues like corruption. The state of the country when you take it over, imagine that. First of all it should be accountable. It is non-sense."
And later when the Student Government of Belmopan’s bus finally made it to the rally, protesters stepped off to cheers from other rally-goers.
Banners in hand, they were ready to exercise their right to have their voice heard.
Sudely Leslie - Senator, Student Government UB
"It’s just about showing up I know that not all the students. I think the country in itself knowledgeable about these things. We have a very defeated mentality as is UB students."Â
This evening The Office of the President of UB issued its own memorandum addressing its response to the Ministry of Education's Non-school day.Â
The University maintains that yesterday's memorandum was not applicable to them. They added that in the future any Ministry of Education memorandum that does not specifically mention the University and is not endorsed by the University's President can have no effect. It said that approval has to be given by the Board of Trustees.
