She was the President of the country's most powerful labour union, but, tonight, Ruth Shoman is back to civilian life after resigning today - and for the second time in less than four months.
Her six page letter of resignation was delivered this afternoon and it opens with the simple declaration: "This letter serves as a notice of my resignation as National President of the Belize National Teachers' Union effective September 1, 2023."
Later on, she adds, that she is walking away, quote, "because I realize that my presence will only continue to hemorrhage the Union I love. No person is bigger than the Union. Certain members, for whatever reason, seek to address the Union's business in public without realizing the long-term negative effect this will have not only for our members, but also for Unionism in this country." End quote.
Shoman was elected in April of this year - and since then has been dogged by allegations from her internal detractors: first, they said that she had a criminal record, and, second, that she was neither an in-service or retired teacher. They argued that these issues made her ineligible for the post. Shoman maintained that the case against her was a trumped up smear campaign. But, after 7News reported last week that the US State Department confirmed that "she was never a State Department employee," reports suggest she started to lose support in the union executive. Reports say, she had listed Atet Department trainer as one of the teaching jobs she most recently held.
For her part, Shoman this week told 7News that the media has taken union "gossip...as gospel" and that she didn't know where the US State Department story came from.
In early May of this year, Shoman wrote a resignation letter and then rescinded it within 24 hours. At the time, she was facing allegations about a past civil judgement against her for theft.
But, this one seems to be more final and she tells membership that "1st Vice-President Jorge Mejia, will take over from her."
But, even that is being challenged. The BNTU National Secretary Bay Rivas has written back to Shoman telling her thanks for her service but advising, quote, "Regarding the transition of leadership…The Council of Management will fill the vacancy outlined in our By-laws and regulations." End quote.n
As we understand it, the union will have to have a bye election to fill the post. We'll keep following it.
