This morning students from University of Belize campuses in the city left their classrooms and went into the streets to from a spontaneous protest against the Prime Minister. They say the national university has been neglected and fed with empty promises for too long. So they went on foot from University Drive to the Prime Minister's Office on Gabourel Lane. That's more than halfway across town and our 7NEWS team was there every step of the way. Here's what happened.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
This morning just under two hundred students from the University of Belize campuses in Belize City walked out of their classrooms and onto the streets of the old capital. These young men and women, led by their President Moses Sulph and acting vice president Moises Shoman say it has been two years that they have been trying to get government's attention to address problems affecting their school environment that today continue to plague them.
Moses Sulph, President - UB Student Government
"We are basically tired of it and we are saying we want development of the national university as to represent the nation in the way it should and I believe that students have decided that we are supposed to forward on this."
7NEWS caught up with the peaceful protest on University Drive. The students then made their way onto Princess Margaret Drive passing the flag monument. From there they made their way over the Belcan Bridge and continued on Central American Boulevard into Cemetery Road, Orange Street then over the Swing Bridge onto Queen Street where it culminated in front of the Prime Minister's Office on Gabourel Lane. A long trek in striking sun hot, but they say it was worth it.
Jacqueline Godwin,
I know you said it is not political but taking this stance today, people will take it as a political move.
Moises Shoman, Acting Vice-President
"Well then you have to interview all 200 students and plus that said
they wanted to take this stance. It is not me, it is not Moses, it is not the Secretary of the Student Government. It is the student body. We had a body meeting and they said let's take a stand and walk now."
Student #1
"Well it is not what people view, it is what we believe in and it's not political but we need a change now. If they think it is political that's their view but that's not our perspective."
Jacqueline Godwin,
Is this not just politics?
Student #2,
"No, it is not just politics. It is all for school."
Student #1,
"We need a lot of change. Our school needs to be painted, we need pavement, we need more funds for the money - things are going up and our fees are going up as well but we are not getting more money to pay for it."
Student #2
"A whole lot of development is needed for the school. We need more fans, better chairs, and all of that for the classroom and the campus itself and we are not getting that right now. So we decided to walk to make a stand for ourselves and what we need and what not."
Moises Shoman,
"Our ultimate demand here is to get as much autonomy within the university administration as possible. That is the ultimate demand and then based on efficiency in the university, we really want to try to accomplish that and that is why we are here taking this stand. It is a peaceful walk, it is not a protest, it is not a demonstration."
Student #1
"They've been calling the Ministry of Education but we still haven't had any reply as yet. So we are standing up now to tell them that we are serious and we want it now."
Moses Sulph,
"The yard which was supposed to be paved in the right manner, the fans cleaned in classrooms, the students at Technical are going through hazards
right now, cannot even learn in class due to the fact that the construction that is going on. They are asking that they be relocated, build the building somewhere else, or give commitment to that whereby these students can be relocated at a place where they can actually be in a learning environment."
Students who did not wish to walk followed behind in their vehicles, honking horns to supporters along the way. At the Pound Yard Bridge the police assisted by members of the Belize Defence Force diverted traffic to West Collet Canal. We do not know if the road block was intentionally set to control the situation but the march continued on its route.
Outside of the Prime Minister's office, the students waited for close to two hours to see the country's leader.
Moses Sulph,
"Even if he comes outside and stand up on his verandah, we could have gathered or something because we are here for diplomacy. We are not here we don't even have an intentions of any kind of violent behavior. We are saying that it is time we get development and he should come out. These are the people who had voted for him in the last election and these are the people who had put him there to develop the university and develop the country."
But the P.M. was no show. Only law enforcement officers met the gathering. They were called to maintain the peace. While the police did have to ask students to remove their bicycles that were laid on the pavement and prevented the free flow of traffic things remained relatively calm. Under the watchful eyes of nearby primary school studnets, the university students continued their demands
Moses Sulph,
"We stopped in front of the Prime Minister's Office because we believe in diplomacy and we believe that he is capable of solving the problem because ultimately he is the person who is in charge of everything basically right now. We believe that he is the person. We have been lobbying to other persons and consulting with other persons. We even met with him yesterday and we basically told him the demands that we want and he gave us a positive note."
Jacqueline Godwin,
It ended on a positive note so why today you guys decided to walk out of the classroom?
Moses Sulph,
"It ended on a positive note. Also, all promises before have ended on a positive note. All promises have ended on a positive note whereby verbally it is a good note but we haven't seen things get delivered. He had asked us yesterday to get a list of some of the things needed and he would have called back yesterday. We haven't gotten any call back about those inventories as yet. We want to see things either in writing by certain date or we had asked that these things get started delivered to the university because these had been promised over and over and I believe the only person right now who can actually make the situation ease down. We were trying not to start this because if we start as we start there is not turning back until we get what we justly deserve."
The students later learned that the P.M. had left the building earlier to attend a function. But Moses Sulph says that while he was waiting he did receive a phone call on behalf of the government. According to Sulph he was given an assurance that at least one of the demands would be met. But still Sulph says what was offered is unacceptable.
Moses Sulph,
"Mr. John Woods called me and told me that on behalf of Mr. Fonseca that he would come and finish the pavement and everything we want but it won't be until March and March we don't know who will have the power then. He was asked to do the pavement but it will have to be until March 6th because he is saying that it would have taken the first amount to settle or something. But we are saying that we could be promised that March 6th and then we go back to classes and that is just to get us out of the way and then when March 6th comes, nothing happens. So what we want, we are telling them that we want something tangible in black and white. What we are saying is we want something tangible. You have to sign a document and give it to us. Sign a document and give it to us saying that it will be done so it is a legal document, you understand. But we don't want no more promises."
So after spending several hours in the sun the students decided to call it a day. They said today was only round one. The students then walked back to school but they have not decided if they will return to the classroom or not. But if they decide to return to the streets, police advised them that they will need a permit to hold any further actions like today's' peaceful protest.
