Fonseca on Outstanding Teachers’ Increments, “Frustrating Situation”

The Belize National Teachers’ Union has had enough. In a press release on Thursday, the union expressed its frustration over the government’s lack of progress in delivering the overdue increments to teachers nationwide. We asked Minister of Education Francis Fonseca how the government plans to respond to this outcry. He acknowledged the issue, saying the government shares the teachers’ frustration. Here’s more on that.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“It’s a frustrating issue. And As I have repeatedly said to the BNTU, everyone at the ministry of education. In fact, everyone in the government of Belize is committed to resolving this matter We don’t get credit for it, but this is a matter that goes back to 2018, 2018. We, our government, our ministry of education, working along with the treasury department and the accountant general, have brought back all of that from 2018 up to 2023.  So what we’re dealing with now is 2023 and the current air trying to deal with those issues. Now we’ve almost resolved everything for 2023 So there are other issues in terms of 2024, but we are working tirelessly. Everyone is working and BNTU knows this because we have regular meetings with them to discuss this matter. So we’re trying to address and resolve this matter as quickly as possible. Obviously, we know that teachers want and deserve their increments, their allowances. So everybody’s focused on getting it accomplished. And we certainly hope that it will be resolved at the earliest possible time.”

 

Britney Gordon

“They asked to have it paid tax-free. Is this a feasible option?”

 

Francis Fonseca

“Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t want to speak on that because that’s something I would have to discuss with the Ministry of Finance. They’re the ones who would have to make that decision. But I’m certainly willing to have that conversation with the Ministry of Finance.”

Stann Creek Teachers Protest Not Getting Increments