The unease over the past two days began yesterday afternoon when the student government associations from the University of Belize and Saint John's College organized a student march down Princess Margaret Drive to show support for the BTL workers. Of course now is has evolved into much more than that but here is how it all started.
Keith Swift Reporting,
The movement began at 1:30 on the campus of St. John's College where students,
with consent from their President and Dean, began a mass exodus from classes. University of Belize Student body President Moses Sulph sounded the call:
The students congregated at the mouth of the campus where they decided to march down Princess Margaret Drive and personally deliver their message to other students.
Moses Sulph,
"We're out because we love this flag. We love our government but we just
don't love their policies."
And with that the students set out on Princess Margaret drive on route to Edward P. Yorke High. The students were marching as one - one purpose and one message.
Student #1: I noh satisfy anymore because if we don't do something - things won't change.
Student #2: I think if we get together as a people, in unity, we can get anything done.
But before they even reached there security pulled the gates shut and even locked it.
With the gates locked shut at E.P. Yorke the movement marched on along PM Drive to Nazarene High. There was no gate here so students filed in. They went into the campus and then they literally went from classroom to classroom making their
pleas. It took some minutes to make their case but in this made for TV moment - Nazarene High students began their exodus from class.
The suped up crowd of university and Nazarene High Students next targeted Palotti High where faculty watched with a look of helplessness as their campus overflowed with the student movement. Well there was one faculty member that did try valiantly
and commendably to maintain order.
Still the Palotti girls would not be moved - from their classroom - so the march which had swollen to the hundreds spilled back onto the street where a decision was make a u-turn and they headed back down PM
Drive hoisting the Belizean flag and chanting "We love Belize."
The peaceful march which snowballed into an afternoon movement took its first negative turn when Assistant Commissioner Crispin Jeffries and Assistant Superintendent
Chester Williams tried to tackle UB Student Patrick Menzies.
After their confrontation with police - the students marched on with it seems even greater purpose. The group first headed to BTLl's headquarters. Nobody was there so they kept moving on and landed in front of the Prime Minister's residence. There they met barricades and a strong police presence. By this time now 3:00 pm it was apparent the movement which 2 hours earlier was no longer in the hands of the organizers. But by now the charge was being led by the Nazarene
High School students who started in a chant in front of the PM's house.
[Students Chanting 'Set Belize Free.']
And with the sound of the anthem and chanting along with honking horns it wasn't long before more police rolled up and Assistant Commissioner Crispin Jeffries
re-appeared.
The students were undeterred by the threat and they defiantly remained in front of the Prime Minister's house. They were also undeterred by the rain that would fall. Instead they had a new chant.
[Students Chanting 'Rain noh wah stop we.']
Tensions went from confrontational to euphoric when Opposition Leader Dean Barrow arrived to an almost hero's welcome.
As we reported earlier, police are now seeking Moses Sulph for his role in organizing yesterday's march.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited for the internet by Keith Swift
