While Holy Cross Anglican Primary teachers were out picketing, their Area Rep. and his Ministry team were busy launching two important policy documents. During our sidebar conversation with Andre Perez, we asked about the complaints from these public servants. He agreed that they deserve those allowances due to the high cost of living on the island:
Reporter
"Have you been brief of this situation and are you trying to make any intervention?"
Andre Perez, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
"Well, you know I kind of was hurrying about it, but I do not know the details as you know I am focussed as well and I have another meeting for NEMO, because of the impending tropical storm Lisa that's coming, so I have to move along. But I'll tell you what, what's happening at that school is not only the issue for that school. It highlights the importance of all those in government, not only teachers that works in Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker and other remote areas for example in the south, that its time for us in government to start looking at these people, although they are all public servants or teachers, there are certain things that need to come to them as oppose to someone who is living on the mainland. It's something that has to be looked at the bigger picture, but it's coming up there, we are just in government for going for 2 years, we're just trying to lift this economy, but are acutely aware that not only that, especially now we are going to open new government offices that are needed, these people are coming on the same salary that you are living in Belize. We have to work along that to see how we can do allowances. They are very right and I agree with them."
