Education Ministry Fires Back at UB Union

The Ministry of Education today responded to a press release issued by the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU).

As we have reported, UBFSU criticised the Briceño administration over what it described as “unfulfilled promises.”

In its release, the ministry stated that it is “deeply committed to the responsible, sustainable development of the University of Belize (UB).”

“The Ministry’s objective is to have a clear plan for the sustainable, responsible financing of the national university. An element of that plan is to increase the subvention to UB from the current level to BZ$10M in the 2025/26 financial year,” the release further stated.

In an interview with News 5 on Thursday, the union’s president, Dr. Pio Saqui, told the government to “restore the subvention as it was prior to COVID and make good on the promise or honor the promise that they made to increase the subvention a million dollar each year, up to fifteen million dollars which is where it should be around now.”

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) is supporting the UBFSU. In a press release, the umbrella union urged the PUP to “demonstrate accountability,” as they stand in solidarity with “UBFSU’s call for the PUP to honour its commitments to the University of Belize and its faculty, staff, and students.”