Across the country this morning, teachers were outside of their classrooms and students remained at home for the day. That’s because the Belize National Teachers’ Union held meetings with its district branches to vote on how to collectively push the government to meet their demands. These include a salary adjustment and an immediate increase in the minimum wage from five to six dollars per hour, among other things. The union believes that if government CEOs can receive a salary increase, then teachers should too, given the significant sacrifices they make to advance education in Belize. Belize District Branch President, Coral Lord, spoke with the media at the close of the meeting. News Five’s Marion Ali filed this report.
Voice of Speaker: Cayo BNTU Branch
Voice of Speaker: Cayo B.N.T.U. Branch
“Your presence here speaks of the support, the trust, and the engagement you are willing to take the appropriate actions to ensure that government meets its obligation to the public sector, workforce, and for us to register our discontent. We have been complaining; we have been saying now it’s the time to register it.”
Marion Ali, Reporting
Today, the Belize National Teachers Union held meetings with members from across the country to gauge their stance on how to proceed with the government. The union argues that the high cost of living, combined with recent salary increases for government executives, justifies their demand for salary adjustment. They are asking for an 8.5 percent increase.
Coral Lord
Coral Lord, President, B.N.T.U., Belize District
“The 8.5 is simply speaking to an adjustment for cost of living that our members, all of us are feeling the pinch. The rise in cost of items or money doesn’t have the same strength and the same value it had. When we go to the store, we see that daily, the price of items are going up, and so that 8.5 is simply speaking to that.”
Among the union’s five demands is an immediate increase in the minimum wage from five to six dollars. This was a promise made by the government in its planBelize 2.0 manifesto. In a letter dated April twenty-second, the Joint Union Negotiating Team (JUNT), which represents the Belize National Teachers Union (B.N.T.U.), the Public Service Union, and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers, reached out to the Prime Minister. The letter highlighted the disparity between the salary increases for CEOs and the sacrifices made by frontline public officers, calling the salary hike a grave injustice. The JUNT also urged for a similar adjustment for pensioners to align with the salary adjustments of their members.
Coral Lord, President of the Belize District branch of the BNTU, shared that the turnout at Swift Hall for its members did not include those from San Pedro and Caye Caulker. The teachers voted on several options for their next course of action, as shown here on this ballot. Lord mentioned that the turnout in Belize City reflected the same level of concern expressed in the letter.
Coral Lord
“Today I would want to put the numbers more around 500 plus. And so I know that we will get, uh, overwhelming support from our members when it comes to whatever action that is needed to be taken. Our members have been agitating for their frozen increments. They have been asking for their salary or upgrades that they have already worked for and have earned. They have been asking for some allowances that have yet to be given to them. In light of all of this and the government is giving raises to other employees, we wanted to find out from them what is their position in respect to this and what they want us as the union that represents them to do.”
Lord mentioned that the various district branch presidents will inform the BNTU executive about how their members voted on the next steps to take. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education posted a response on their Facebook page, stating that they are working to create a system that supports educators, not hinders them. They also announced that digital allowance and increment forms will be implemented by July. Additionally, the Ministry shared that all secondary school administrator positions and half of primary school administrator positions have been filled, with 1,300 primary and secondary teacher appointments finalized. Marion Ali for News Five.
By news time, the B.N.T.U. was waiting for the results to be handed in by three of its branches to reveal how its membership countrywide voted overall.
This evening, Minister of Education Oscar Requena spoke with News Five by phone. During our conversation, Requena admitted that he was not aware of the five-point demands made by the Belize National Teachers Union, which includes the 8.5% salary increase sought by its members. He mentioned that this request would need to be considered by the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet.
On the phone: Oscar Requena
On the phone: Oscar Requena, Minister of Education
“The Ministry of Education has had a very respectful and cordial relationship with the BNTU. We certainly see each other as partners in education and certainly this means that as partners in education, from time to time, we have to sit down, we have to dialogue, we have to collaborate with each other and really build a respectful and trustworthy relationship. With regards to the demands, honestly, I cannot speak to that because as far as I know, I have not seen or received any official communications from BNTU in relation to what their demands are.”
Isani Cayetano
“I acknowledge the fact that you have not seen or heard the demands made by the BNTU, but they are essentially asking for an 8.5% salary increase. The government is yet to put together a budget and present it. Would this be a consideration, and I know this would perhaps come from the Ministry of Finance, but would this be something that you guys would entertain as something to look at?”
Oscar Requena
“Listen, I cannot speak to something that I have not seen, but whatever the request is from the BNTU, this is a matter that has to go to the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet for consideration.”
In a recent social media post, B.N.T.U. President Nadia Caliz revealed that several teachers were not paid for the month of April due to problems with their certificates. This issue has caught the attention of the Minister of Education, who explained that the discrepancies stem from a revision of a Statutory Instrument in 2012. This revision affected the appointment process of teachers under the Teaching Services Commission. The unpaid teachers are facing financial difficulties, and the B.N.T.U. is actively seeking solutions to resolve the matter. The Minister of Education has acknowledged the problem and is working to address the certificate issues that have led to the payment delays.
Isani Cayetano
“The BNTU is claiming that some teachers have not been paid for the end of April based on some discrepancies that may have taken place with regards to their certificates and what-have-you.”
On the phone: Oscar Requena, Minister of Education
“Isani, I am aware of that situation and the honest truth is that this is something that dates back to 2012, when the SI was changed, essentially moving the appointment of teachers from the managing authorities to the Teaching Services Commission and for quite a long period of time the appointment of teachers was something that was overlooked by the managing authorities and even the Ministry of Education up until 2020/2021 when this process was seriously looked at and the whole process of dealing with the proper appointment of teachers was really followed through and this has created some problems for some teachers. But I want to say to you that significant work has been done on this process and I am very confident in telling you that the process has been moving steadily and it is not as if though the ministry is not addressing this matter.”
In response to the hijacking incident on April seventeenth, Tropic Air has introduced new security protocols across all its domestic stations to ensure the safety and well-being of passengers, crew, and the communities it serves. Passengers will now undergo mandatory security screening and physical searches. Before boarding any Tropic Air domestic flight, all passengers and their personal items will be thoroughly checked. This includes both over-the-counter check-in and gate-check options, which are available at no extra cost. Additionally, passengers and their belongings may be subject to physical searches. While children are generally exempt from these searches, they must still declare themselves by emptying their pockets and lifting garments to reveal the waist area if there is suspicion of carrying prohibited items. Tropic Air assures that it is committed to continuously evaluating and improving its security procedures to maintain the highest standards of safety and service.
Today, the Belize Ministry of Civil Aviation held a press conference to address the Holy Saturday Tropic Air hijacking, two weeks after the tragic incident. When asked why they chose to hold the press conference now, Ministry CEO Narda Garcia explained that they wanted to ensure a thorough investigation was conducted and all facts were gathered before speaking publicly. The press conference lasted about an hour and a half and included representatives from the Joint Intelligence Operation Center, the Belize Defense Force, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. One of the main topics discussed was the increased security measures at domestic aerodromes. Nigel Carter, the Director of Aviation, provided insights into what these new measures will look like for passengers moving forward.
Nigel Carter
Nigel Carter, Director of Civil Aviation
“The Government of Belize deployed police officers to all aerodromes. The CEO in the ministry consulted with the domestic airlines and we asked or required them to put in place basic security measures, passenger screening, bag screening and so forth. That to date is still currently ongoing. I would be remiss if I don’t highlight the fact that we have previously worked with the Belize Airport Authority in so far as strengthening airport security. They have currently engaged a private security company with the intent of this company providing aviation security at the different aerodromes where commercial air services occur. I can say that the employees of this security company are currently being trained. We have clearly defined prohibited items, items that cant go on an aircraft and we plan to conduct a public awareness campaign to ensure that the general public is a ware of what they can and cannot go on an aircraft. Firearms can’t go on an aircraft. You must declare it steps are taken to ensure that aircraft is not in the cabin. Something as simple as a lighter is not allowed to be taken on an aircraft. We will improve the process of interviewing passengers, so asking them questions, sir madam is there any time you are taking on board that should be prohibited, small interviews to make sure that they are ware they should not be taking any item on the aircraft.”
We also heard from Stanley Gideon, the Deputy Director of Civil Aviation, who was inside the air traffic control tower as the hijacking unfolded. He noted that the tower detected the emergency at 8:17 that morning and immediately sprang into action. We’ve reported that the pilot, Howell Grange, had to deceive the hijacker into thinking they were flying to the U.S. As remarkable as that story is, it wouldn’t have been possible without the expertise and calmness displayed by the air traffic controllers. Gideon shared his perspective on the situation.
Stanley Gideon
Stanley Gideon, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation
“This entire event continued to unfold and between eight seventeen and eight thirty-seven form the aircraft saying he had been hijacked and who was onboard and wanted to go to the United States, we coordinated with an aircraft in the vicinity to check with the aircraft that had the emergency and they confirmed there was a hijacking in progress. In the split moment, the pilot had the ability to speak in Spanish, because the hijacker obviously English speaking. This is where the ruse started. He asked them to please speak in Spanish. He told them to pretend that he was going through Mexico airspace on his way to the United States. And, when he got closer and the ruse is, that when they had transversed Mexican airspace to have an American voice come on. This went without a hitch. The amazing part is that ATC picked up on the pilot’s ruse and for the next hour and a half in the airspace, this aircraft, never left Belizean airspace. The pilot flew in a way to confuse the hijacker. But this was a skillful ruse between the air traffic controllers and the pilot to put this entire flight in different regions, but it stayed over Belize. That coordination cannot be matched at any level, how the pilot and the ATC worked to pull off this ruse.”
Director Carter mentioned that a contract is being finalized with a private security company to enhance the security of Belize’s airspace. While the name of the company wasn’t disclosed, it’s been confirmed that personnel are currently undergoing training. Starting next week, the police officers currently stationed at domestic aerodromes will be replaced by the security company. So, who will cover the costs for this new measure? The Belize Airport Authority will fund the first year. After that, airplane passengers can expect a slight increase in the cost of domestic travel.
Narda Garcia
Narda Garcia, C.E.O., Ministry of Civil Aviation
“This morning in discussions with the airlines we were talking about that. What I do know from the meetings I went to the BAA, talking conceptually about the whole issue of security services, BAA indicated that they can absorb the cost for one year, but after that they would have to levy a fee for security services. If you look at the changes at the PGIA there is a fee for security services that is paid by the traveler or the people. We will have to look at where to pay that. We will either have to do that. I don’t know where we will do that, either pay it separately or on the ticket of the passengers.”
Paul Lopez
“So, it signals a potential increase in air travel cost domestically?”
Narda Garcia
“Yes, definitely.”
Paul Lopez
“Is there any considerations being given have terminal that are completely ran and managed by government while entering into contracts with airlines to use these facility. Is that a countermeasure being considered for the medium or long term?”
Nigel Carter, Director, Department of Civil Aviation
“I did mention that this is part of the mid-to-long solution. We have to have single terminals where airlines are tenants as opposed to owning the terminal building.
With a singular terminal building, you have single apparatus for improved passenger flows and security as well.”
Narda Garcia
“Last year we entered into an agreement with IDB to do a full fledged masterplan for airport aerodromes. So the issue of security and infrastructure will be addressed through that masterplan for the local aerodromes.”
The Ministry of Civil Aviation’s media briefing comes after U.D.P. Queen Square Area Representative, Godwin Haylock, criticized the Briceño administration for not holding a press conference on the national emergency sooner. Although the announcement of the conference came just hours after Haylock’s comments, he argued that the government should have addressed the public in real time. Here’s what Haylock had to say.
Godwin Haylock
Godwin Haylock, Area Representative, Queen Square
“Today I must speak on the fact that the entire nation is still waiting for an official government press conference on the hijacking of the tropic airplane on April 17th. This press conference was to be held in real time immediately after the incident, yet the government to date has refused to hold a real press conference. I beg the question why, and the only answer I can come up with is since winning March 12th, the government is overconfident, they feel that it will pass over like a breeze. Now we all know that the PM is the minister responsible for the Civil Aviation, however we have been reliably informed that he was out of the country seeking medical attention so we would have expected that the Department of Civil Aviation or the Belize Airports Authority would take the lead on this matter.”
Talking about mental health publicly is still somewhat taboo, even though more people are opening up about their experiences. Defining mental health isn’t straightforward, but experts agree that emotions, behavior, and functionality are key factors to consider. It’s also important to understand that mental health exists on a spectrum, ranging from mentally healthy to mentally ill, influenced by current circumstances, long-term experiences, and medical conditions. Ultimately, help is available for those seeking support to navigate the complexities of mental health. No one must suffer alone. In tonight’s installment of the Five Point Break Down, reporter Paul Lopez takes a closer look at navigating the intricacies of mental health and mental illness. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
When punta rock artist Hubee burst onto the music scene, he was praised for his undeniable talent. He’s been making waves with hit songs like “Can’t Leff,” “Tell Them,” and most recently, “High Favored.”
Highly Favored
“Sorry to the people… and I cant be everything.”
In March, the music world was stunned when punta rock sensation Hubee made a startling announcement at the beginning of one of his performances. He revealed that he had just experienced a mental health breakdown moments before stepping on stage. The immediate reaction from the audience was disappointing, with some making fun of the situation and hurling disrespectful remarks. Hubee later took to Facebook to share more about the severity of his struggles, shedding light on the challenges he was facing.
However, the tide quickly turned on social media. Fans and followers flooded Facebook with messages of encouragement and support, praising Hubee for his bravery. This sparked a broader public conversation, highlighting that while awareness around mental health has grown, stigma persists.
Stigma Surrounding Mental Health
Miss Universe Belize, Halima Hoy, is a passionate advocate for holistic health and well-being. She’s been at the forefront of public awareness campaigns and has hosted numerous interviews on the topic. We had the chance to catch up with her at an event in Belize City and asked her why holistic health remains such a taboo subject.
Halima Hoy
Halima Hoy, Miss Universe Belize 2024/2025
“I think we often think that there is something wrong, or we attach a negative connotation to having mental health illness or mental health problems. So, often time people shy away from talking about their feelings, or we invalidate their feelings, like “why you feel that way bway, you should not feel that way and stop the think like that.”. But we need to learn to take a more professional approach, or just a more empathetic approach overall. It is on spectrum, and it can be something you cannot identify, to something that is extremely severe.”
Mental Health on a Spectrum
Dr. Nikhil Jain, a mental health consultant from the Center for Mental Health Law and Policy, delves into the idea that mental health exists on a spectrum, ranging from mentally healthy to mentally ill. He explains that mental health is defined by a trio of factors: our emotions, how those emotions influence our behavior, and ultimately, how they affect our overall functioning in society.
Dr. Nikhil Jain
Dr. Nikhil Jain, Mental Health Consultant, PAHO
“I would not call it mental health breakdown, but if I am talking, right now my mind is actually working in certain directions. I might be a little distressed, because this is an interview and you are asking me some questions. You might not be, because this is your day to day job. But, something might happen and this can immediately change. What we are trying to understand is that mental health is not a static thing, it is more like a moving dynamic, it is a continuum where there are multiple situations which one might face. So that will the determine if the person is currently feeling stressed, whether they are facing a long term issue which might make them more distressed, an ultimately if provided with a predisposition, some environmental factors or some sort of genetical factor which is underlying and might actually push them to the verge of being mentally ill, what we define it as.”
In other words, the mental health spectrum covers everything from isolated moments of distress due to current experiences, to long-term issues that lead to health deterioration, and even medical conditions. Traditionally, mental health has been viewed mainly as a biomedical issue. But now, there’s a growing recognition of the importance of psychosocial and cultural factors in understanding an individual’s mental health.
Help Is Available
According to the Ministry of Health and Wellness, nearly twelve thousand people sought help for mental health issues at government-run clinics between 2018 and 2021. Every day, more individuals are reaching out for these services, says Ivette Quintanilla, the Technical Advisor at the Mental Health Unit.
Ivette Quintanilla
Ivette Quintanilla, Technical Advisor, Mental Health Unit
“Everyday we are seeing patients coming in to access the services and after COVID we are seeing more persons accessing services and as we go along we are seeing more persons reaching out to us in terms of requesting mental health services. Mental health should be a practice everyday. Just as we encourage taking care of our body, we encourage exercise and good sleep, and other things to take care of your body it is the same way we encourage you to look after your mental health. It is what we call wellness or selfcare. That is what we encourage you. So we don’t have to wait until you are not coping with stress or different situations in life that may lead to the disorder. So, you don’t have to wait until you reach there to do something about it.”
You Don’t Have to Suffer in Silence
Whether you’re a public figure like musician Hubee or someone living a private life, it’s crucial to understand that mental health isn’t static. The factors contributing to mental illness can vary widely, and what works as a remedy for one person might not have the same effect for another. Dr. Jain emphasizes that suffering in silence is never the best response, especially in extreme cases.
Dr. Nikhil Jain
“What we usually see is that I depend on my own resilience, I can do it and move forward, maybe push on my own with more. That is something that does not always work. In some cases where there is a small trigger, a stressful condition, all of us bounces back to our normal life. Sometimes when there are engrained conditions the person is facing they usually need help. This help can be an informal peer support, a formal specialist care, psychological care, psychosocial care, it could be anting for that. It should not be just putting one person to be just strong about it, be more resilient, just push through and jump back. It is not always for all the individuals.”
There’s a new commissioner at the Belize Police Department. Today, the department held the official change of command ceremony where the former police commissioner handed over the reins to Doctor Richard Rosado. Chester Williams has been with the department for over thirty-three years and served as commissioner for the past six. He exits the post as the longest-serving top cop and the first attorney-at-law to ascend to the role. Williams is now preparing to step into his new position as Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Constitution, Religious Affairs, and Transport. At today’s ceremony, Williams reflected on the department’s accomplishments during his tenure.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Former Commissioner of Police
“ As I said, policing has been my life. I joined the ranks of the police department at the seventeen coming straight out of a bakery to a police officer. And from then, that is all I know. So it is bitter to the extent that it is what I have been doing all my life. And it is sour because I am leaving and it is sweet. It’s for the simple fact that I now get an opportunity to go somewhere else and see how best I can continue to serve my country. The Ministry of Constitution, Religious Affairs, indigenous Affairs and Transport is a ministry with a lot of responsibilities. We all know that traffic is a problem in this country. We saw the amount of fatalities on our Highways last year, and certainly it is the mandate of IT government to make sure that we don’t have a repeat of last year. And so moving over with Dr. Zab at that ministry is certainly something I welcome. I look forward to doing what we can to address the plague that troubles our commuters. I traverse this country from Punta Gorda to the city to Benque. And on many occasions I see the type of buses on our highways that our commuters have to bear the pain, to ride in the morning, to go to work on the evening, to go home. Many a times we see these buses bruk down on the side of the road, commuters standing outside, waiting for transport to get them to work or get them back home. These are things that need to stop. Your peer for a service is expected that you’ll get good service. And so myself and Dr. Za, we are committed to making sure that the communities of this country get the service that they’re paying for.”
