And with active cases in the double digits, the government has deemed it safe to begin reopening schools.
After this weekend, students from about 70 different schools across the country will be entering their classrooms for the first time in over a year.
But still, it won't be like pre-COVID days. As the Minister of Education explained, there is a checklist that each school has to pass before being approved for reopening. And while most of that checklist has to do with the safety of the students, Minister Fonseca told us last night on UnCut that the schools will also need a plan as to how they will incorporate blended learning with both in class and online platforms.
Hon. Francis Fonseca - Minister of Education & Culture "The last report I got Jules was yesterday and they said to me that 70 schools had applied to reopen on April 12th and of those 70 schools I think something like 45 or so had gotten approval already and for May 10th I think 109 schools or so have applied for May 10th to reopen. And there's a process, the schools apply, the ministry vets the application, then a team from the district education centre in their respective district visits that school to ensure that they are in compliance with the greenlight standard safety checklist that we have, once they meet those that satisfies us that they are in compliance with that checklist, we are satisfied with the plan they have submitted then the ministry issues a certificate authorizing them to reopen. Every school has their own approach, we're very flexible, but we want to ensure that just as you said, that students for whatever reason, parents are not comfortable, students are not comfortable, they're not ready to send their children to school, that the school will have a plan for those students. Now you talk about a full program for the students, but that may be the case and parents will have to bear that in mind when they make that decision."
Jules Vasquez "But even as you're cutting teachers' salaries, this is an unreasonable request. First of all, online learning had its own challenges, blended learning poses another set of challenges and we want to specify having certain kids in this week, having certain kids next week, and now you want to add a third component that's cruel and unusual, minister.
Hon. Francis Fonseca "What's the third component?"
Jules Vasquez "The third component is to have a full online platform as well."
Hon. Francis Fonseca - Minister of Education & Culture "What you need is a plan for your school. That is what you need. And again, I repeat, if your school and your teachers are not ready, your school community is not ready in terms of being able to find that kind of support to students and their families then you are not ready to open and then you should begin to prepare for September."
NICH Is Broke And while the phased reopening is good news for schools, NICH is not having as much luck. The Minister of Culture spoke about the state of affairs for NICH and to put it plainly, they're broke. According to Fonseca, NICH has not been able to generate any sort of revenue and their staff has been on indefinite pay cut. These dire conditions have led once dedicated staff to walk off the job.
Hon. Francis Fonseca - Minister of Education & Culture "NICH is absolutely out of any source of revenues, I think you know under NICH's umbrella, we have 14 archaeological parks, we have the Houses of Culture, we have the Museum of Belize, the Government House, the Goldson House in Belmopan, all of those come under the umbrella of NICH. Before COVID we had about 225 employees now we're down to about 168, this is even before I became the minister. The staff at NICH has been on 50% pay since March of last year. The rangers who are on the frontline protecting our national assets at the parks, they are on 80% pay. Very difficult and challenging situation. No revenue."
Jules Vasquez "Up to recently people have been laid off from NICH. Retrenchment is a UDP word, minister."
Hon. Francis Fonseca "It's not retrenchment, we just do not have the revenues so many cases, Jules, we talk to people and we say listen, you'll have to continue with 50% pay and some people choose to walk away and say we'll try our luck somewhere else. So, it's a combination of those things, but NICH has no revenues."
NICH has also laid off staff, with a most recent round of layoffs last week. The original compliment of over 200 staff is now down to just over 150.
Sapna Budhrani Here to Stay But one staff member who's not going anywhere is the president and administrator, Sapna Budhrani. While many had speculated that she would lose her spot on the board, Fonseca confirmed last night on UnCut that she's there to stay at least until her contract expires.
Hon. Francis Fonseca - Minister of Education & Culture "I have had no problems working with Ms Budhrani since I took over as Minister of Culture. We are in a very difficult and trying time, she has a contract, but as we speak, she continues to enjoy my confidence."
Jules Vasquez "She will remain as the president of NICH and an administrator?"
Hon. Francis Fonseca "Yes, she has a contract that runs into next year."
Jules Vasquez "But you will not seek to terminate the contract?"
Hon. Francis Fonseca "No, once the contract comes up we will review it at that time but not before the expiration of that contract."
Fonseca Says Artists Will Get Vaccinated But while NICH is struggling, there's hope on the horizon for its starving artists. Vaccinations for these artists is a cause that former music ambassador, Shyne Barrow, had started to advocate for. He brought the issue to light during an interview back in March, and he will be happy to know that the Minister of Culture agrees with him. Fonseca confirmed that they will be looking into getting creatives vaccinated in the near future.
Hon. Francis Fonseca - Minister of Education & Culture "I think the challenge with the artists is that they're not organized in a way that enables you to identify them as a group and say okay, we'll put this structure in place for them to get the vaccine and that type of things. But we did discuss that at the last meeting of the Cabinet and the Minister of Health did say that they would take that into account and try to address that vaccine issue through the Ministry of Health so we have discussed that."
Pigtail Price Gouginge
Yesterday we told you that Belize's favorite unhealthy delicacy was in short supply. Food vendors were beginning to worry that they would have to make their split beans and boil ups without pigtails.
This is because importers have been having a hard time getting the product from US farms due to COVID.
Bu the pigtail panic is over because one of the main importers, Price Premier Products got a shipment in this week, and it has already been distributed to retailers across the country. The representative added that another shipment will be coming in next Monday, and every week after that.
But she warns that the price increase that retailers have put on their pigtails is a clear act of price gouging. According to her, the retail price should be $5 per pound, which provides the retailer with a fair 20% profit since there is no GST.
Yesterday buyers told us they were paying up to $7.50 a pound. The Price Premiere Products representative said that and that in that case the retailer results in a 45% profit, which is taking advantage on a product that pays no GST.
Update on Cayman Crown Last night we told you about the latest developments with the Corona Reef. It's also called the Cayman Crown, and it's an important coral reef system that is now a part of the expanded Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve.
Last night, the Ministry of the Blue Economy, TIDE, and the Belize Fisheries Department sent out a joint press release to say that this important fish spawning aggregation site at the country's southernmost border was going to lead to a bilateral conservation effort between environmentalists from Belize and Guatemala. But, shortly after our story aired last night, there were some concerns raised.
In the joint press release from yesterday, the organizations made it clear that part of the Corona Reef was in Belizean waters, and that the other part was in Guatemalan waters. The press release says that the Corona Reef, quote, " straddles the maritime boundary between southern Belize and Guatemala ". End quote.
The release also asserted that this important site was"declared protected" protected in both countries. The statement also said that TIDE was responsible for Belize's portion of the Corona Reef, while their Guatemalan counterparts, FUNDAECO", was responsible for the quote, "Guatemalan portion", _end quote.
Well, informed persons are suggesting that previous attempts to map the coral systems in Belize have not revealed any reefs in Guatemalan waters. Those studies include Belize's EEZ data, which was mapped by Jan Meerman, and the Allen Coral Atlas. It is being suggested that both of those studies aren't indicating any transboundary reef systems. This member of the public reasons, therefore, that there is no need for TIDE to get permits from the Guatemalan authorities to study the Corona Reef, because it is, quote,"completely within Belize's waters", end quote.
Nevertheless, there is currently a plan for TIDE, Guatemala's FUNDAECO, and the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative to work jointly on research, protection, and management of the "newly formed transboundary marine protected area".
Minister on Mountain Pine Ridge There is also an update on the popular attractions in Mountain Pine Ridge. Yesterday, we told you that the Ministry of Tourism handed over the management of the Rio Frio Caves and the Rio On Pools to the Ministry of Sustainable Development. The new facilities being built will hopefully attract more tourists, who will need to pay a fee to enter, which in turn will assist with the upkeep of these facilities. Here's how Minister Orlando Habet put it in a ZOOM call today.
New Community Resource Hub for George Street Belize City's George Street is getting a new mobile beauty shop and a new, free of cost, Community garden. It's all part and parcel of the Love Foundation and U.S. Embassy's Community Resource Hub projects.
We've reported on Hubs in both the Yarborough and St. Martin's areas. Both are mechanic shops that have harnessed the skills of the area's community members.
The George Street version of the Hub, however, has a gentler touch and a green thumb.
It was inaugurated today as the culmination of the overall project "Empowering Communities to Empower Themselves."
The Minister of Home Affairs applauded the initiative today calling it a seed of opportunity for enterprising citizens who just happen to be from troubled neighbourhoods:
While the opening of Previous Hub's were held in their respective neighbourhoods, this one was held at Old Belize, just a safety measure to ensure the safety of program participants, in light of the murder of Jermaine "Goofy" Garnett who was murdered while at work at his hub in December of 2020.
BNTU Votes In New Treasurer and Vice President Amidst the chaos of the budget consultations and impending industrial action from the unions, the BNTU held a two-day convention, during which they held their elections.
However, only two positions were being contested: the post of treasurer and of 1st Vice President. We are told that Keesha Williams is the new treasurer with 335 votes and Jorge Mejia is the new 1st Vice President with 395.
Elena Smith remains as the national president, Ruth Shoman as the National Secretary, and Keesha Young as the Executive Secretary.
