And while the water pressure is off, the political pressure was on this morning in the capital as teachers from throughout the Cayo District gathered to stage a protest. Our team was there.
Alfonso NobleReporting,
A crowd of about 150 teachers form the Cayo District took a procession through the capital. Their yellow flags hoisted as a show of solidarity. The teachers defied the term of the permit to hold a procession and stopped to sing the national anthem in front of the market...and in front of the DFC...and in front of the Comprehensive School where students looked on.
Hubert Enriquez, Union Leader
"You see a delegation of mostly teachers, but public officers as well, to show solidarity with the position taken by the NTUCB."
Jules Vasquez,
Is the position out here that as stated by TUC that the government must resign?
Hubert Enriquez,
"Well you see my sign right. Despots must flee; must flee."
It's the message they've been keeping to but the mass of the membership of the unions has not been heeding it and neither has the country's leadership.
Jules Vasquez,
Why don't you have 100% support as you had the last time in January and February?
Jaime Panti, San Ignacio BNTU President
"Well I guess that many factors have contributed to that. I think also politics is actually the main factor. Intimidation, that's the main factor."
Hubert Enriquez,
"I believe as the days go by we'll see more and more public officers coming out and teachers as well."
Jules Vasquez,
So you all will maintain this strike action?
Hubert Enriquez,
"Definetly Jules. Definetly."
But even as they maintain - the government has said it will cut the pay of these teachers for missing work on an illegal strike.
Jules Vasquez,
Are these teachers prepared to face a pay cut?
Hubert Enriquez,
"That's what I said. That's what I said."
Ernest Banner, Teacher
"Well we don't care if they deduct our pay because we are out here to say our dignity, to save the country, so they can do whatsoever they want."
Constance Hyde, Benque BNTU President
"We have the majority of supporters from our branch out here. Over 50% of them are out here."
Jules Vasquez,
Are you all prepared to face a pay cut?
Constance Hyde,
"We are well aware of all the implications of us coming out on this strike action and we are prepared to go full force within whatever it takes."
Jules Vasquez,
How long are you all prepared to keep this up?
Constance Hyde,
"First of all we know its not illegal. We know. We are teachers. We are well aware of our rights. We know it is not illegal and we are ready to keep up with the fight for as long as they are willing to keep up with it."
Emily Martinez, Belmopan BNTU President
"We are in this thing for the long haul Jules and Belize comes first. We have to teach our children that we must stand up for our country. Many countries pay a price and we are willing to pay the price. I am willing to stay home. If Ministry tells me go home tomorrow, I am willing to do that for my country. That is the point our people have reached now."
They are ready to stand up but to get the community's support they'll have to prove that they are not sacrificing their students on the altar of a self or a political interest.
Ernest Banner,
"They will put any spin to something that is legitimate because we are out here for those children. They are not feeling it now but come next 10 years when we have to pay those loans off, what will happen."
Emily Martinez,
"Children are our priority and who knows the children more than us. Who can evaluate the children more than us? So I think that the Ministry of Education is being unfair to us. Even before coming on the strike the Standard six and the fourth form teachers were asked to assign tasks for the children while we were out here. So I think that is unfair."
And as the teachers continued for the second day in Belmopan they say they'll go as long as they have to - but if they don't get greater numbers that could be a long time before the people responsible for things like the mess inside this building heed the call.
As of this evening, a spokesperson at the Ministry of Education confirmed that those teachers who are on strike will get a pay cut for days absent. That was in question because that's been falsely threatened before and because UB teachers who are on strike report that they got their full checks, complete with their raise, today. But a Ministry spokesperson speaking on behalf of the Chief Education Officer Maud Hyde this evening confirmed that those paychecks that are not cut at the end of this month will get it cut at the end of next month. Teachers countrywide will receive their paychecks by Friday.
The questions the teachers union is asking is whether the pay cut is legally justifiable. A letter sent from the International Labour Organization to the Labour Department states that workers have the right to take action in defense of their economic interests and that includes action against tax increases. Attorney for the BNTU Lois Young has also joined into that chorus with a legal opinion which makes the point that the strike is in no way illegal, in fact it is protected by law, and moreover, government is acting illegally when it threatens teachers and more so when it cuts their pay.
