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All across Belize, primary schools are going to be rallying tomorrow. It's a celebration of independence for kids that goes back decades - and, in recent years, it's been scheduled for the last Friday before the 21st of September. This year that falls on the 15th - which also happens to be Guatemala's Independence day. That is felt heavily in the western border town of Benque Viejo - where hereditary and educational ties with Guatemala are strong - and it's not uncommon to see Guatemalan flags hanging from people's homes. It is also strongly felt in the schools - where many Guatemalan children cross from Melchor daily to attend.
And that's why the Benque branch of the Belize National Teachers Union staked out yesterday with a resolution to not march on the 15tH. That resolution says, quote, "the 15th of September coincides with Guatemala's independence, a nation with a territorial claim on Belize. Given the sensitivity of this matter, it is in the best interest of our community and our members to continue the tradition of parading on the 20th of September."
Branch President Andrew Arnold - who is a teacher at Mopan Technical High - told us why today.
Andrew Arnold, Benque BNTU President
"The letter was drafted after our AGM meeting yesterday. The motion for us not to parade was brought up during the meeting where membership voted the majority of our membership. All of our membership voted to not participate in that parade tomorrow because it coincides with the same day of Guatemala's independence."
"I believe that issue had been looming in the air for sometime it so happens that it was presented during the meeting as is right now we do not have a National President I'm not sure if that was one of the reasons it hasn't been taken up before but it was brought to me and it's been placed as part of my mandate as being president of the union I must address whatever the membership has and they had taken that position so I must stand firm with them that we will not participate in the parade tomorrow because it coincides with the same day as Guatemala's Independence Day celebration and our celebration is on the 21st which is next Thursday and I believe as schools to be more patriotic we need to celebrate our independence close to us which is September 20th as we shave always done in the past years."
Reporter:
"Have you written back to the district education officer and expressed this as well?"
Andrew Arnold, Benque BNTU President
"We have sent a letter to the district education officer and we have gotten a response from them which they will continue as is planned with their parade."
We note that this resolution was among the very first acts taken by the new Benque BNTU Executive which was elected yesterday.
