If he has his way, tonight Charlie Good will be spending his second night in front of the Supreme Court. For three days, Charlie Good has been in front of the court - protesting the termination of his wife Hirian Good who was a school warden at Trinity Methodist School. Charlie Good took off the morning to recover from last night’s vigil which went right up to this morning, even through a rainstorm. This morning while he recovered, Hirian had company. Former KHMH CEO Alvaro Rosado and musician Jason Guerrero described the comments of Education Minister Patrick Faber on 7News on Wednesday as arrogant and unbecoming.
Alvaro Rosado, Supporting Hirian Good
“I have never heard such a stupid comment from a politician when Minister Faber said this is a political appointment. What is not then? If a school warden is a political appointment then what is not. So I am here because I think it is unfair and I think this government has gone much too far. I didn’t protest when they fired me but I am supporting the Goods because I think this is out of hand.”
Jason Guerrero, Supporting Hirian Good
“I think what’s being done to this family is very unjust and I am standing against injustice and I think families being terribly treated and I am really disappointed with Minister Faber and his attitude on TV the other evening. I’d like to call Patrick a friend but I think I am not with him where this issue is concerned. I think he was very pompous and arrogant in his interview the other day and that is why I am standing here.
I am flanked by persons who appear or are perceived to be PUP and anyone who knows me know that I am anti-PUP. I am pro-UDP. I am not a UDP but I am pro-UDP and I am standing here for injustice as I said.”
Albert Vaughn, Supporting Hirian Good
“I came out here in solidarity with Mr. Good and Mrs. Good and they are my neighbours as well and so that gives me the right to be here and I want to see this change regardless of it is UDP or PUP, this is supposed to change.”
Jules Vasquez,
“She says it is your former Minister I should say who appointed her, Francis Fonseca. The present Minister’s argument is that while you all were hiring
her, his people were starving and now he has to feed his people. You know how political realities are, that’s his argument. How do you respond to that?”
Albert Vaughn,
“That is right Jules, Francis had hired not only PUP, all Belizeans as a matter of fact. This government’s is to find job for people, not fire people. They must find a way to get their people employed. It makes no sense to take Ms. Good’s job to give a UDP.”
Vaughn Gill, Supporting Hirian Good
“And it is not just about Mrs. Good. I don’t think we should just say Miss Good needs her job back. We need to find a way to resolve this problem where poor people are being taken advantage of. Ms. Good is bold enough to come out and make a stand but other people I know are PUP, everyday we get reports from our supporters who have been victimized but they are afraid to step out because maybe their husband has a job or their child has a job and they are afraid but I am glad Mr. and Mrs. Good have taken this stand.
If Minister Faber is bold enough to say that he doesn’t care that it is political victimization outright, I don’t see why I can’t be here to support Ms. Good. My cause is good, his is wrong.”
Jules Vasquez,
“How do you feel knowing that your family relation to the Minister, he is your nephew?”
Vaughn Gill,
“I guess if people have been listening on the radio that does not hold me back or him back. But the issue is that right is right and wrong is wrong. It doesn’t matter if he is my uncle or not, he is taking advantage of poor Belizeans.”
But as we mentioned Hirian Good held down the fort. It was her third day in the sun. While most parents were shopping for back to school today – Hirian was fighting to get back her $680 a month job. And as the clock wind she says that she doubt she’ll get back but she is still hoping for some kind of job which will help her and her four children.
Hirian Good, Protesting Termination
“He spent the whole night out here, he and Sister Ya Ya was here too supporting us and his health is not good like how I would want it to be but this morning he got soaking wet. He didn’t want to go home but he stayed here and so at the end of the day he went. He said just two hours and then he will be out here back again. And at the same time this is day three, nothing happened yet, I am not moving because I really need a job and a little support at least for my children’s education. That is all I am asking for. I don’t know why this has to be politics. I don’t have done nothing wrong. I have done my job how it is supposed to be done, they asked me to do it that way there, the proper way and I have gone the extra mile to do it. So why they are punishing me now like this. Monday school is opening, still yet nothing.”
Jules Vasquez,
“So you have four kids in school, have you bought the supplies and stuff for them?”
Hirian Good,
“Well to tell you the truth I have gotten some second hand books for two of the girls at Palotti but nothing apart from that. The next two I got for Mathew, I got three second hand books, no uniform yet for none of them. No uniform but I know I will get through with this. All I ask for is help. That’s all I want.”
Hirian Good says she was offered a job but she turned it down because it only paid $75 a week. She thanks all those persons that have offered support and provided her water. The Goods are still out there this evening and plan to go thru the night again.
