Last week, the Belize National Teachers Union held an election to choose a new president. That's because the current president, Elena Smith, served her tenure and must now hand over the reins to someone else.
And for Smith, it has been an exciting six years, since the BNTU is one of the most active and most fiery unions. They've had several protests and demonstrations, and Smith's face is no stranger to the cameras.
But today she told us that while she is stepping down as president, she will continue to be a part of the union's membership.
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"They say every good thing must come to an end so this is the end of my road, I've served my three terms as per hour constitution and so it means that I must part ways in terms of with the leadership not in terms of my membership. So for me I think it's bittersweet because my first reason I got into unionism was because of my role as a teacher and so that's my first love, that's what I enjoy doing, but I also fell in love with unionism as well and so I'm leaving, if you will, I'm leaving one love to go to the other one. So I enjoyed my work, I believe that, as I said to my people, I gave my best and I think that is all I can do, is to give my best and so I will still be a member, I will still be active, I won't give that up but I must recognize that my term has ended and I must return to the classroom."
Courtney Menzies:
"And with the elections having just gone by, do you feel like the union will be in good hands now?"
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"Well, I have no doubt because remember now that as the president, we don't make those decisions, those decisions, most of the big ones, are made by the membership and so whether it is that you as a president maybe have different view or may not support a suggestion or recommendation, it is not your place to determine whether we act or not, it's the membership's position and so I don't expect that the leadership coming behind me would be any different. You have to do what it is that the membership decide, you are just the figurehead in terms of leading the meetings and chairing and things like that and the face and voice of the union but your mandate comes from the membership and I'm sure that that will continue in that fashion."
And her successor, Ruth Shoman, will have big shoes to fill, but Smith explained that since she has been a part of the council, the transition should be seamless.
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"In terms of the transition is not a matter that you would need to have approval from the council so normally it should be as the outgoing president, you prepare a report, you do an exit report, you sit with the incoming president and you share that exit report and you can share it with your council as well so that they can be aware of what were the things that were completed, what are outstanding things and maybe what suggestions you would have in terms of as the outgoing president, I am suggesting that you can continue doing ABC and D. So between now and the end of June or the first week of July, it depends on how things go, then we should have that sit down where she and I can then share what are the outstanding matters, and again, remember she has been a part of the negotiating team and the council for all of these years so she's fully aware of what has happened thus far so she would only need to be updated on anything that may happen between now and the time she takes the office."
