In May of 2007, the then 60 year old Charles Good went on a hunger strike in front of the Social Security Headquarters in Belize City. The retired BDF captain was protesting the $77 dollars weekly pension payment he received from Social Security. He said it was too little and Social Security did increase his payment. This morning, Good was protesting again. This time he was out on the street in support of his wife, a school warden who’s been fired. Except that when we got out there, he wasn’t on his feet, he was on his back! Good was lying on Regent Street, his head just feet away from passing traffic. At first we thought it was a dramatic gesture, but we found out that the old soldier had allegedly been pushed by a policeman. Here’s more.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
This was the scene this morning in front of the Supreme Court as Charlie Good lay on the street, his sign of protest against the government on his chest. He was there to support his wife – Hirian Good, a school warden who’s been terminated by the Ministry of Education. She says police pushed him – and so does an eyewitness who asked to appear off camera.
Hirian Good, Protesting
“The policeman shoved him. He was telling my husband that he can’t stand up there but he was telling him this is in front of Supreme Court and he shoved him from the back of his head and I said he can’t do that because he has heart problems, diabetes and hypertensive and this man has served his country. They know that.”
Jules Vasquez,
“Why was he pushed?”
Hirian Good,
“Because the police told him he doesn’t business in yah and that he needs to go on the street and he shoved him down.”
Witness,
“He called somebody who is higher than he and he told the man to get out of the yard and he held the man by his neck and he shoved him and the man flew over the chain thing there and dropped on the ground.
I think that is unfair because the man the fight for his wife’s rights. They fired him for nothing and that is what they the do. This politics thing has to done. So if they are fighting for their rights I don’t see why I would protect government and all of this. Let the people do what they are doing. I told them two people alone can’t do no lot of picketing to that and that won’t cause any problem so I don’t see why he is stressing on two people.”
Wile Good was carted away in an ambulance, his wife says they will continue the fight against unjust termination.
Hirian Good,
“Because they tek away my job and that is the only thing I was surviving on. I was a school warden at Trinity School and I used to do my job, I got good recommendation from them and my principal gave me good recommendation and they took it away in August.”
Jules Vasquez,
“Because you are a PUP?”
Hirian Good,
“Yes because I am a PUP.”
Jules Vasquez,
“You were distinctly told that?”
Hirian Good,
“Yes, Minister Faber told me in his own words that they dismissed me because of politics. He said I should have gone from last year. I told him but I have four kids in college, my husband sick and can’t work, and he said I can’t help you, I got my people to put in.”
But she has her multiple mouths to feed and this job letter form January of 2009 during the term of this same government praises her for, “doing an excellent job in carrying out her duties” and gives her a special thank you for those duties. But just 7 months later she got this letter, informing her that she was terminated on the 31st. July. And that’s why she says she’ll continue to protest:
Hirian Good,
“We have a right as I believe this is a free country and what Barrow mi say, that they won’t dismiss people. I mi believe that when they said it but dah nuh so.”
Hirian Good had an annual salary of just over 8 thousand dollars a year about 680 dollars a month.
Hirian Good had an annual salary of just over 8 thousand dollars a year, about 680 dollars a month. Good was hospitalized and when we checked this evening, he had been released. He told us this evening that he will continue the protest tomorrow and everyday until some suitable solution is arrived at. Unofficially police have indicated to us that he tripped over the chain, and that he was not pushed. Good told us that Corporal Berry pushed him and that’s how he tripped over the chain. Good made a complaint against Berry this evening.
