The BNTU were back at it again - this time protesting in front of the House of Culture where, just inside, the members of the Cabinet were meeting. Their protest was small but their message remains the same: good governance and no pay cuts. Courtney Menzies was out there today and has this story.
If you tried to send your child to school this morning, you would have noticed that his or her classroom was closed. That's because the BNTU strike continues - and during that strike, teachers do not work.
But they were still out educating the public today using information flyers that condensed their message into seven points.
Tanya Flowers Gillett, President, BNTU Belize Branch
"What we're doing today is an education campaign, we started from Battlefield Park and we're distributing our information flyer, know the facts, after which we will do a small picketing around the House of Culture today."
"We're sending the same message from day 1, we're asking for good governance, corruption to come to an end, the implementation of UNCAC, nepotism to stop, transparency, financial accountability."
And while the picketing group was small, Gillett explained that teachers were engaged in their own forms of protest in different parts of the country.
And these teachers fighting for good governance and against the pay cuts now risk not receiving any salary at all by striking - a risk they are willing to take.
Tanya Flowers Gillett, President, BNTU Belize Branch
"Well obviously you know if we're out of the classroom, you know the government will dock our salaries."
Reporter:
"Is the consensus among your teachers that they are willing to take this salary dock?"
Tanya Flowers Gillett, President, BNTU Belize Branch
"Well, we're out here, you saw what happened yesterday, we're standing up, and we have our purpose for why we're standing up. We're going as long as we have to go, we're going to stand as long as we have to stand. Thank you."
The BNTU have other activities planned for the rest of the week as their strike action continues.
