LOO Weighs in on Delayed Teachers’ Salaries

The Leader of the Opposition also weighed in on the plight of teachers who are facing issues with their salaries, as well as hours accumulated for continuous professional development.  The Belize National Teachers Union called a press conference last week where they informed that as many as one hundred and thirty teachers are being affected.  Barrow places the blame squarely at the feet of the Briceño administration, particularly the Ministry of Education.  Here’s what he shared on the issue.

 

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“It is startling and reprehensible that a hundred and thirty teachers have not been paid and have been compelled to hold a press conference with the BNTU president to demand their payment.  This is in conjunction or on the heels of the teachers protesting on Independence Day due to the lack on increments.  Remember, we had an increment freeze in 2020 due to COVID-19.  But the honorable prime minister bragged and boasted to anyone that had listened that the economy was recovering robustly and, in his words, the economy has grown every quarter since the People’s United Party has taken office.  Thus, the teachers want to know, with such great economic activity, why can’t they get their increments.  Now we have instances of teachers not being paid, as I said with the BNTU president, the national president, at the head table in a press conference demanding pay for the teachers.  This then follows with the continuous development hours that the teachers have not been able to get due to cost of living, due to not getting their increments, due to not getting their pay on time and we see no solution for this government.”