More than half of the members of the Belize National Teachers’ Union were out marching today in Orange Walk Town. They were joined by some cane farmers and sympathetic citizens as well. Arturo Cantún reports from Orange Walk Town.
ARTURO CANTUN REPORTING
“The first BNTU march and rally was held in Orange Walk this morning with some 350 teachers taking part. They were marching under the theme “teachaz gat yu bak”. National BNTU president was out supporting the teachers of the north.”
LUKE PALACIO – National BNTU President
“The purpose of the march is just a part of the rally; we march and then we are going to have the rally at the Central Park where we will be getting addresses from different individuals.”
ARTURO CANTUN
“The ministry is not okay with the teachers being out here today.”
LUKE PALACIO
“The union makes us strong; the ministry needs to understand that.”
Teachers marched through some of the principal streets of down town Orange Walk. Local BNTU President Otilio Munoz was happy with the turn out.
OTILIO MUNOZ, President of BNTU
“I am very happy; you can see the number of the teachers out here; you can see we have the support of the caneros; we have a very large number. I am very surprised and amazed with this turnout. It feels good. The teachers share the same sentiment; they don’t like what is being done to them; they are looking for that word, ‘compromise’ from the Government and that is why they are out here in numbers. After this, we will see what happens but this is just the north starting with our rallies and we have the other branches of BNTU executing theirs as we go along.”
Members of the Belize Progressive Teachers Union, a local teacher’s union also took part in the event. Leon Palacio is its president.
LEON PALACIO, President of Belize Progressive Teachers Union
“We are marching for our rights and that we should have some increase on our salary and it has been long and withdrawn and on hold and they are just playing around with us, not giving us what we want and they know that we deserve it at the end of the day.”
Silvia Marin teaches at San Jose Palmar and told us the purpose of the event today is not only about a salary adjustment but also about better working conditions.
SILVIA MARIN – Teacher at San Jose, Palmar
“What we want is that the Government takes us seriously. For a very long period of time, they have not been able to really come down and say let us honor this bargaining agreement that we have; that should be done every three years but it’s not done and although there are words, the Minister does express that teacher will get it but there is nothing concrete and so we want them to consider and sit down and say what is the amount of increase that the teachers are going to get and honor us and respect us in that manner because we have been patient enough to be waiting and we haven’t had anything concrete.”
ARTURO CANTUN
“Marin added that as to lost classes for students, teachers always make it up when they stay extra hours after classes to offer assistance to students. But teachers were not the only ones who were out today, so were the cane farmers. BSCFA Vice chairman Alfredo Ortega represented them.”
ALFRED ORTEGA – BSCFA Vice Chairman
“Well, I think that the cause that they are fighting for is very good; I believe it is for the betterment of the nation and once it is for the betterment of the nation then it is the betterment of all of us. I think we will be going all out in supporting the teachers because as you know, we have been fighting our own cause on our side and we have been asking for the participation of not only the teachers’ union but all the other unions across the country and that is the same way we support them and they support us and so, today we are moving together as one group.”
ARTURO CANTUN
“Today’s event even pulled out retired teachers who support the movement 100%. One of them is Lourdes Salvidar.”
LOURDES SALDIVAR, Retired Teacher
“I am supporting the teachers 100% because I have been a teacher for 20 odd years and I know what it is to be a teacher but not only that; I am a citizen of Orange Walk and a Belizean and I know what it is to live day to day to help students; sometimes nobody knows other than the student how you helping and apart from that I see the other things that are happening and I believe that the leadership in this country and the leaders and in many places, people in authority have a lot to do with what is happening.”
And while some 350 teachers were out marching in support resulting in a no-classes day for most schools in Orange Walk, there were the teachers that reported to work like a normal day.
LOURDES SALDIVAR, Retired Teacher
“Well, as I said the fear is washing away but there is still fear in some places and I think again that authority has something to do with that. But what is the fear? Fear is when you don’t believe in God, when you don’t trust and that is why there is a lack of faith in some places and that is why when you have faith and believe that good can come, then we have to continue and I think this road is being paved by people who are not afraid to talk and to stand up but we there is much that has to be done.”
ARTURO CANTUN
“Teachers were saying today that all Belizeans need to realize that they are out there marching for all the work force as they recognize that when teachers suffer, all feel the pinch some way or the other. Retired teacher Arcaria Carrillo told us the only way to move forward is through unity.“
ARCARIA CARRILLO
“I think that it’s the people and the teachers who have come to realize that they need to be united; they need to be solid; they need to be able to follow leaders who know what they are doing, where they are going and carry all of us along and we, as teachers, no matter how young your are, how old you are, I think it is our duty to support the teachers ‘union.”
ARTURO CANTUN
“A similar march and rally was held this morning in Corozal Town where approximately 200 teachers took part.”
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