Public Backs Teachers’ Call for Pay Raise Amid Soaring Costs

Tonight, the voices of everyday Belizeans are ringing loud and clear and they’re standing in solidarity with the nation’s teachers. As educators continue to call for an eight-point-five percent salary increase to keep pace with inflation, the public is echoing their demands. Teachers argue that the rising cost of living is making it harder to make ends meet, and they’re pointing to a recent fifteen percent salary bump for government CEOs as a glaring double standard. Their message? If top officials can get a raise, so should the people shaping the future of this country. Today, News Five hit the streets to take the pulse of the people and the response was overwhelming. From shopkeepers to commuters, residents say the teachers’ call for fair compensation is not only justified, but also overdue.

 

Resident 1

“The teacher dehn know why dehn di ask fi that. Dehn know weh da fi dehn blood sweat and tears. Da just like when a taxi man ask fi wa extra two dollars pahn dehn fare because gas di goh up soh da wa business dehn deh eena and dehn high eena demand. Da nuh like – to be honest, teachers di get soh rough up, I have lotta customers weh da teachers weh di stop be teachers and goh work da wa call centre, soh I suggest dehn help dehn people.”

 

Resident 2

“Dehn work hard and dehn tek care ah dehn kids. Dehn all time assist dehn eena dehn school stuff to. One ah dehn tell mi that every summer holiday ih save at least four hundred dollars fi spend back in the classroom outta ih own pocket.”

 

Resident 3

“They deserve it and also we got bills to pay, dehn got kids and dehn need fi eat. That da the reason dehn deserve weh dehn di ask fa.”

 

Resident 4

“It’s correct because everything is – the price of everything is going up and the teachers are people that have to get wa fair salary because dehn di teach kids weh wa be the men and women of tomorrow. Soh dehn have to have peace of mind fi teacher correctly.”

 

Resident 5

“Dehn deserve it, fi real dehn deserve it. The teachers are the backbone of Belize. So dehn deserve that eight point five percent raise. Dehn deserve it.”

 

Marion Ali

Do you have anybody who teaches your child or maybe your grandchild?

 

Resident 4

“My wife is a teacher. She helps the students. Some children come to school without eating and she have to fill in that gap. Soh that’s why they deserve it. Everybody need a teacher in Belize. All the lawyers, all the prime ministers need teaches so the teachers deserve to be looked at.”