Ruth Shoman assumed her duties as BNTU president this week but is facing a fight upon taking office. A faction of the union - mainly from the south - is attempting to force an investigation of her ascension to the post - leading, they hope, to her ouster form the union and its paramount post.
Last night Shoman went live on facebook with a response to the campaign.
BNTU president Ruth Shoman's transition into office was met with backlash from several concerned BNTU members. They claim that her presidency violates the BNTU constitution. Her opponents are gathering signatures seeking a petition and judicial revision attempting to block the presidency of their newly elected leader. On her first day in office Shoman went yesterday evening to galvanize support from the union.
Ruth Shoman, BNTU President
"Teachers and members, I have been placed in this position not to, not to bring anything other than unity other than what you deserve. For years I have been serving the BNTU. it is not now I started as a staff rep for my school over 15 years ago and I have served in various capacities throughout. one thing I must be consistent and have Been throughout my service to BNTU is that I have always put the best interest of our members before anything else, and with that I have been consistent which has led to various attacks of my person in the past and that is okay because that's part of what we do, that will not change."
Shoman claims that she knew prior to being elected president that people would have used her past against her. Shoman Faced criminal charges in 1998 for theft and admitted to stealing $110,000.00 from island Marketers Ltd and Belize Yacht club in San Pedro. She was ordered to pay $81,028 in 2000, by the supreme court. Despite this Shoman adds that her past will not overshadow the work she wishes to accomplish within the BNTU.
Ruth Shoman, BNTU President
"With that said, I'll say that as it pertains to all the incidents that have been going back and forth what I will say is that whatever is out there is something that transpired when I was a teenager part of a century ago and long before I became a teacher. I know that holding this position opens myself to attacks and that is okay really. We live in a democratic country, and everyone is entitled to have a voice. I don't plan on silencing anyone's voice ….as a matter of fact as unionists we were created from the bedrock of democracy and justice having a voice for the voiceless… so I will not silence or attempt to silence anyone who has a voice in this country but I will also not waste any precious time in trying to answer to things that won't help the union and will not push the work of the union forward either."
We'll keep following this story.
