And so while the Briceno administration is confident that it will be able to placate the teachers, the Leader of the opposition said that it's not goodwill, it's because they were made to face a costly political ultimatum:
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Why does it take that the BNTU has to overwhelmingly vote to take industrial action for the government to do what is right and deliver what was promised to the teachers? Because this government simply does not care about the struggles of the Belizean people."
Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister
"The minister has given a full commitment that we are going to work even harder on it to make sure that come December 28th teachers who have not gotten their increments who have not gotten their allowances and in the case of increments I don't know how long you have teachers going back six, eight, seven years who have not gotten that, we are going to make sure that on December 28th all those persons get their monies that are due to them."
"So I'm sorry to disappoint you sir. It's December and it's a time for celebrations, it's a time to take care of the families, it's a time to wish each other well, it's a time to share love and great tidings and greetings and all the good things that come with Christmas."
"It's not about demonstration, that's not going to happen. This government, the minister has made it very clear that no BNTU is going to march against no government under his stewardship, but you're gonna have to find some help somewhere else, but not at our expense."
