2024 - Channel 5 Belize

Teachers Demand Statement Retraction from PM and Minister Coye

The Belize National Teachers Union says it is being constantly attacked by the Government of Belize. The union is now calling on Prime Minister John Briceño and Christopher Coye, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance; to retract recent public statements they made pointing fingers at teachers for poor performance in the education sector. The union says it condemns the statements because they irresponsibly generalize the flaws in the education system as being a direct result of the quality of teachers. One of the most recent comments came from Minister Coye during a World Bank report launch event in San Ignacio. The report noted that investments being made in the sector far outweigh the returns. Today, the union held a press conference in Belmopan where Jorge Mejia, the acting president of the B.N.T.U., outlined the issues raised in the report and why they believe fingers should be pointed at the Ministry of Education.

Jorge Mejia, Acting President, B.N.T.U.

“The issues outlined by the report related to the education sector highlighted several areas, one the lack of reliable measures of learning at the secondary level. High repetition rate in primary and secondary, inefficient use of grade repetition as a support policy, potential issues with salary structures for teachers, affecting the evaluation of the education sector, challenges implementing strategies to reduce learning gap between subgroups, high expenditure on secondary education, inadequate measures in student progress and ways to support students that has special needs. The report also looks at poor student performance in Belize, declining in PSE scores, factors including student performance, tougher assessments, and shift in test taking pools towards learning outcomes of students. We also want to share with the public that in no way the report directly linked poor teaching as a major factor contributing to low performance in the education system. Despite the finger pointing that the minister has stated in public, this is not the real scenario. The key stakeholders that should be responsible to ensure that all policies are in place should be the ministry of education and in extension the chief education officer.”

B.N.T.U. Says MOE Budget Not Trickling Down to Classrooms

And, it has become common to hear teachers complain about a lack of resources at these press conferences. But, in light of the World Bank report, Keisha Williams the union’s National Treasurer took a different approach. She questioned how much of the government’s investments in education, as highlighted in the report, are trickling down to the classroom. She also chided the Ministry of Education for endlessly piloting projects with no real analysis, only to further burden teachers.

Keisha Williams, National Treasurer, B.N.T.U.

“Let us take a look at resources for example, if you are to ask any teacher across the length and breadth of this country, how are they doing as far as resources are concerned. Who is providing the resources to them? They will tell you that they have to dive in pocket for a lot of the resources. In fact, most of the resources that are used in the classrooms teachers have to provide out of their pocket for. There is no denying that the budget allocation in this country has a huge lump sum that goes to education. Where the money goes is the question that the general public needs to ask. Is it trickling down in the classrooms? As far as the oversight of the system, the Ministry of Education is responsible to make sure that the system is properly running, has policies to address the day to day running of the institutions the provide management for, they are responsible top provide insight and strategies to bridge the learning gap that they recognize. Instead of that we have a lot of pilot projects coming to us as teachers, they are piloted but there is no analyzing of these projects at the end. The teachers is burdened with more work because these pilot projects come with extra finances that does not trickle down to the teachers. The general maintenance of the system, it is the general responsibility of the Ministry of Education and not the teacher.”

B.N.T.U. Demands an Overhaul of Belize’s Education System

And finally from the B.N.T.U.’s press conference, we heard from Bay Rivas, the union’s National Secretary. Rivas noted that teachers are fed up of being blamed for the inefficiencies within the education system. He noted that the union is cognizant of the important roles teachers play in the classroom, but that nothing will change if there isn’t a systemic overhaul.

Bay Rivas, National Secretary, B.N.T.U.

“When you have already dealt with all your personal business you have to find a way to fix your classroom. You need to find a way to prevent the roof from dropping on your head. We need to find a way to compile the state of some of these schools, bat infested, where they have woodlice and you ask the managing authorities, they will tell you they are not responsible for that, go and have a bizarre and make sure you have enough money to fix your classroom. So, we are saying enough is enough, this is way too much. We are tired of dealing with the inefficiencies of the system and on top of that you wah come and seh well dah your problem. If we are going to fix thing we need systemic changes and not try to scapegoat the teachers. We are not here to say that we are not cognizant that our roles as teachers are one of the most important when to comes to our student learning. What we have a problem is that the insinuation, because these politicians they will not come out and say oh these teachers don’t know to teach, well maybe Johnny would, because his kind of loose, definitely the system failed him. As I said, if you put very qualified teachers in the same system it will produce the same results because the problem is the system, so if you want change it because you need to change the system.”

Francis Fonseca, “Quality of teachers directly linked to quality of education.”

Earlier today, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca spoke about the relationship between the Government of Belize and the Belize National Teachers Union, in the wake of recent comments made by Prime Minister John Briceño. While he reiterated that both parties share an amicable working relationship, he also emphasized that the quality of education that students receive is contingent upon the quality of their educators.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“We have a good working relationship with the Belize National Teachers Union. It’s been a respectful relationship and we speak openly and frankly, so that’s nothing new. We have talked openly about the need and the BNTU accepts that there is a need for improved teacher education. We need to improve the quality of teacher training and we need to ensure that we are equipping our teachers with more skills. As you all know, we’ve implemented a new curriculum, a competency-based curriculum. That new curriculum requires that our teachers develop news skills. So that’s an ongoing effort, it’s an ongoing effort and whatever the government has said about it, it’s not to be critical. It’s not to disrespect teachers, it’s not to be critical of teachers, it’s to say to them that we need to work together to ensure that teacher training is improved. All of us have a collective responsibility to ensure that because the quality of our teachers is directly linked to the quality of education.”

Former Mayor Says Municipal Governance Has Changed

The People’s United Party Belize City municipal slate introduced its manifesto on Monday, after the team held consultations with residents to come up with what their needs are in various areas of the city. And over the weekend, our cameras caught up with former Mayor, Bernard Wagner and two of his councilor candidates as they went about their campaign with residents in the Faber’s Road Extension area. As News Five wraps up our coverage of the pre-election campaign trail, Marion Ali towed along for a brief part of that descent on Faber’s Road and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

As the hours draw nearer for the municipal elections, the political parties used their last weekend to reach as many of the residents in anticipation of voter support on Wednesday. Former Mayor Bernard Wagner led part of the slate in their campaign on Faber’s Road Extension. And while their manifesto pledges to deal with drainage and infrastructure, Wagner told News Five that municipal governance has changed.

Bernard Wagner, P.U.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belize City

“Municipalities regionally and globally has changed and have quickly recognized that that da nuh weh mek wa city. A city da the people, a city da the food, da the culture, da the arts, and, so it’s a local economic development, the local economy. And so as a municipality in the 21st century, you have to be able to strike a balance. You have to be inclusive. You have to show that you understand the type of challenges residents are facing on a day-to-day basis, not only in physical infrastructure, but their social needs as well, and that is what we have been doing. We have been essentially one of the key drivers in driving our local economy. We believe strongly that the best platform of getting people earning an income is the best social program.”

Kaya Cattouse is seeking her second term as a councillor. Over the past three years, she was responsible for sanitation, a portfolio she says posed no challenges for her. But the plan, if she and her team are voted in again, is to refocus on infrastructure.

Kaya Cattouse, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“We had no workers out there picketing. We had no problems with them any at all. We were able to work together get the job done. I believe we have been doing a good job at the council as it relates to garbage – talking about the portfolio that I was given, noh?”

Marion Ali

But overall, as a council, what would be the first things that you would like to see get done, moving forward?

Kaya Cattouse

“One of the things in our manifesto is the digging of drains. This is something that we plan to, take, a more intense look into because we have seen that streets are being fixed, however, drains, on those same streets need some work as well as drains on streets that have not been fixed as yet. That is one of the things that we plan to take a very good look into – abandon lots, something else.”

This will be Eluide Miller’s first bid at the polls, but he already had a first-hand experience when the PUP held a convention in 2023 to select the top ten candidates from a list of over twenty. Miller did not only make the cut, he topped those polls. He was an administrative employee at City Hall prior to his candidacy.

Eluide Miller, P.U.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I’m a new candidate but not a new face to most of our residents. And certainly the work is not new to me. And so I’m very comfortable and it’s been great so far.”

Marion Ali

“A lot of residents do to have also said that there is no need for an elected council because the administration at the city hall can get the same job done as effectively. What’s your take on that? And you coming from the administrative level in city hall, would you’d know about that?

Eluide Miller

“Yeah, I completely disagree with that point. The city is extremely huge. We’re the biggest municipality in the country, right? We have just about 70,000 residents to look after; 730 more than 730 streets, right? And it’s a lot to manage. And having been an employee of the council before, I know the amount of administrative work. And the councillors play a very important role in decision making, right, and in policy making. And that is what they are there to do to shape the policy. And the council is guided by that policy.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

U.D.P. 7 Belize City Hopes To Win Big in Old Capital

The United Democratic Party is fielding a team of seven candidates for Wednesday’s municipal elections. Career educator, Doctor Nelma Jones Mortis is leading the charge for the U.D.P. Eleven. They launched their manifesto several days ago and are now hoping that they can reclaim those municipal seats once held by their party. News Five’s Paul Lopez spoke with Mortis and her councilor candidates in this installment of Meet the Candidates.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The United Democratic Party is seeking to end its two-term municipal drought in Belize City. After a longstanding reign in the Old Capital, Belize City residents opted for a People’s United Party municipal slate in the last two municipal elections. Well, Dr. Nelma Mortis, the United Democratic Party’s Mayoral Candidate, and UDP councilor candidates Angelie Perez and Samson Jacobs have placed their names on the ballot and are confident of victory at the polls.

Dr. Nelma Jones Mortis, U.D.P. Mayoral Candidate, Belize City

“I am a thirty years or over experience educator. I am also a researcher, a social activist and I am inspired for two various reasons. I am a person ho believe in service and that is the greatest effort you will get out of me, to serve the people. Additionally I am also trying to make, or at least give a better reflection to the younger woman than me to walk in political leadership where we are not well represented.”

Angelie Perez, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I am a paralegal and I decided to put my name on the ballot for two reasons, I want to be able to see more young people being represented and as well as women, because I believe we have a voice and in order for my voice and the voice of the young people to be heard there must be representations.”

Samson Jacobs, U.D.P. Councilor Candidate, Belize City

“I am a teacher at Edward P Yorke High School. I started off at Sadie Vernon Technical High School but prior to that my first place of employment was Hand in Hand Ministries where I use to work with persons who were infected and affected with HIV and aids. I am social workers by degree but I am also a trained teacher and I have a certificate in grant proposal writing and project management.”

Mortis and her team launched their manifesto last Thursday. The document has three key areas of focus, environment, economy and equity. She says most of the residents she spoke with on the campaign trail were more concerned about national issues as opposed to municipal challenges. She added that issues of food and citizen security are on top of the list of those concerns.

Nelma Jones Mortis

“One of the greatest thing that comes out from the people on the ground is more of national issues and I know I do have to do a lot of work in helping out people to understand the importance of local government. At this point there is not really much thing to say about the local government as much as there is thing to say about national government. And, that has to do with the nexus for food and security. People have to eat, people are hungry. People want to feel secure. Their lives and I have to say this, recently there have been a lot of electioneering where the streets are being fixed and close to election or upon election and that symbolize that us as politicians we are hinging people’s livelihood and quality for life to an election and it should not be that way.”

Mortis noted that the business community in Belize City already raised a number of concerns to her team that they plan to address if elected on Wednesday.

Nelma Jones Mortis

“Parking is a major issue for them, especially on Albert Street and Regent Street. So we have to create a vision for that. Either we do parking that goes up or we cut off a certain are just for parking, that is something that has to be assessed. Two, they speak a lot to the trade license, which is seems there is not equity across the board when it comes to that. Now that is beyond the Belize City Council’s purview, however again, collaboration as the mayor of this city that is where my leadership comes in having to bring this central government to point the way forward.”

And councilor candidate, Angelie Perez, says if young people are questioning what impact a youth can make through politics, she has a message for them.

Angelie Perez

“I think the kind of impact a young person can make, if we shy away from these roles we will never be heard. So we must step up. WE must embrace these leadership roles in order for our voices to be heard. When I decided to put my name on a ballot and told people, one of the questions people asked is if I was ready because politics is a very dirty game and I am very grateful to the good lord that this time it hasn’t been like that and my mayor also doesn’t believe in negative campaigning.”

Councilor candidate Samson Jacobs also voiced several concerns he heard from residents that he believes his team would be able to effectively address.

Samson Jacobs

“I remember on the campaign trail we were back in Gungulung area and some business owners were complaining about the drainage and the street. One of them actually said when they come to purchase in the store they could not enter because the water the cover the bridge to get in. I believe the same way they consider the north side people to pay their taxes and they get their services, the same needs to be done on the south side and that is where the equity comes in.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

U.D.P. Chides Briceño Administration Ahead of Municipals

This afternoon, the United Democratic Party held a press conference at its headquarters here in Belize City. During the session with the media, Party Leader Shyne Barrow began by criticizing the Briceño administration for promises it has failed to deliver since taking office in 2020.

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“We approach the time of the most sacred exercise in our democracy which is tomorrow, March sixth, the dawn of change for the better, because yoh got two kinda change, the PUP change and then the UDP change, for the better is upon us. You know, for the last three, and six in some instances, even twelve consecutive years if you look at Orange Walk Town, who have had four consecutive terms of doing nothing. First they complained about not having a central government that was PUP and now that they have a central government that is PUP, with none other than the prime minister and four other representatives, I believe, being from Orange Walk, they have done nothing for the people of Orange Walk Town. We have just been subjected to broken promises, mismanagement, misappropriation of funds and rampant corruption by the PUP local government. The promise of synergy has never arrived. The optimal benefits that were declared to be looming once you had a PUP central government and a PUP local has turned out to be a marriage of complete disaster. We have suffered, the Belizean people have suffered from this dysfunctional, extremely dysfunctional relationship.”

Patrick Faber Celebrates 21 Years as a Parliamentarian

Also present at the presser this afternoon was Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber. Of note is that U.D.P. mayoral candidate Doctor Nelma Jones Mortis hails from that constituency. Faber began by acknowledging his twenty-first year as a parliamentarian before speaking about Collet and the campaign trail.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“Today, March fifth, makes twenty-one years that I’ve been in the House of Representatives and, of course, under my watch we have never lost the Collet constituency at no level, municipal or general. And, of course, tomorrow, I can assure you, party leader, will be no different. I can assure the country that we will bring victory once again in Collet, but I want to say as well because of my work with the team, I am confident also of a victory citywide. We might not win all constituencies, but cumulatively we will definitely make what it takes to deliver City Hall to the UDP once again. I sit at this table today to have people understand that as we move into the elections tomorrow, we are one united force. The UDP has a record of division, as many would know, and it also has a record of coming together when the country needs us and it is no doubt that if the country ever needed us, that time is now. And so, we have put differences aside in order to make sure that tomorrow we will enter those elections one unified front and bring victory in all nine of our municipalities across the country.”

Faber Anticipates a U.D.P. Victory at the Polls

As far as tomorrow’s municipal elections, Faber says he is optimistic that the United Democratic Party will make inroads across various cities and towns, ahead of a victory at the polls during the 2025 general elections.

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“I have had the opportunity to visit with some of the teams across the country. I’ve not gone north but I’ve certainly been south and west and I feel as optimistic as I do about the Belize City team with those teams as well. I feel that we have, in those areas as well, excellent slates and I am looking forward to an early count. I think that the fact that they are counting boxes simultaneously should produce an early result in most of these elections and it’s not going to be, hopefully, like those years gone by where dawn is breaking and we still don’t know who is the winner in some of these municipalities. I think it will be early tomorrow and I look forward to celebrating with my UDP colleagues that victory and to mark the improvement, if you will, but the steps forward in bringing back the United Democratic Party to the government, the national government of Belize. I hope that the results tomorrow will be an impetus for Prime Minister Briceño to call the elections.”

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Celebrates Women’s Day

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at is inviting all women to join them in celebrating International Women’s Day. The day, which is observed on March eighth, is meant to promote women’s rights and acknowledge their achievements globally. To participate in the fest ivies, the Muslim community of Belize will be offering an array of services at the Masjid Noor on Saturday. We stopped by today to hear what the event will entail. News Five’s Britney Gordon reports.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Every year, on March eighth, millions of people across the globe participate in the observation of International Women’s Day. The holiday was declared in 1975 by the United Nations as a day for Women’s Rights and World Peace. As part of this celebration, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at hosts an annual International Women’s Day Expo, which is meant to foster a sense of community and provide an array of services for women in Belize. The president of the Women’s Jama’at spoke to us about these activities.

Maham Warraich, President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Women’s Group,

“This is the third year that we’re having this. And it’s basically celebrating International Women’s Day. It is the month that we’re celebrating women. And we’re offering the same free services that we’ve offered in the previous years as well. And a lot of our locals obviously enjoy that. So some of the services are henna, paint, henna, and hair braiding, and nail painting, and eyebrow OUT 0:46 threading.”

As the holiday is meant to be a reflection of women’s achievements and a day to prioritize the progression of their rights and wellbeing, the Jama’at stated that this event will be an opportunity to offer health and wellness services.

Deshawn Ellis, Member, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at

“It’s more than just an event. We want it to be an experience for the women. I think that one of the themes for this year’s Women’s Month is Invest in Women. And that’s what we want to do with this expo. You know, we’re gonna have the free services, we’re gonna even have free vital screening, so that you can prioritize your health. And so it’s really investing in women.”

As part of the goal to elevate and empower women, several small female-owned businesses will be given the opportunity to showcase their products and services as well.

Maham Warraich

“So our main goal for this event was also to support our local Belizean ladies and to have a platform where they can come and they can obviously expose their business to other people. And so we have obviously food stalls that people are selling their baked goods and their food. And then we also have an individual who’s selling skincare, bracelets, and then we also have pre loved clothing that they’re trying to sell. And then we also, as It’s for us to have the knowledge of Islam, that if anybody’s interested in learning about Islam, they can come and we’ll have a book stall, and we also have the try on a hijab. That’s a huge hit. A lot of ladies come and they try it on and it’s a loving experience for everyone.”

Member of the Jama’at, Khadija Hassan, spoke on the importance of helping others as a part of the Islam beliefs.

Khadija Hassan, Member, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at

“You know, so we introduce ourself to the community. We integrate ourself in the community by helping the community. We are not separatist. We’re not isolationist. We are here to help and to serve. The promised Messiah, peace be upon him, said that his advent was to bring people back to God and to bring them back to respecting and helping each other. Service is a big part of her community.”

Hassan informed us that the event will not only serve to uplift women in Belize, but will also assist families suffering from the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Maham Warraich

“So as we know that there’s a huge crisis happening in Gaza, and it’s been going on for almost six months, and we thought that it was something that needs to be brought to attention. And so all the proceeds that are going to be from this event, they’re going to be donated to Gaza to help with aid there, because it’s really, really needed. As a Muslim, it is our job to give service to the community, but a huge part is also giving charity as well”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

The event will be hosted on Saturday, 9th of March, from ten a.m. to four p.m. at the Masjid Noor.