Two Teachers On The Ballot For B.N.T.U. Presidency

As you heard, the Belize National Teachers’ Union will be electing a new national president on Thursday. Two members are vying for the position. They are Ifasina Efunyemi and Nadia Caliz. We sought to speak with both candidates today in Belmopan. Caliz denied our request for an interview but says she has nothing to hide and will grant an interview after Thursday’s election. Efunyemi, on the other hand, was willing to speak. She is one of the three candidates who lost to Ruth Shoman in April 2023. This bi-election gives her another chance at the presidency, and she says that she is feeling very confident this time around.

 

Ifasina Efunyemi, President Candidate, B.N.T.U.

“I am feeling very confident. I am feeling very calm. I know and have a lot of confidence in the members of the BNTU. At the end of the day the m3mbers they get the leaders they deserve it is just like democracy overall, people get the leaders they deserve because they get the leaders they choose and even if they don’t make themselves available and are present for choosing they still end up with whoever is chosen by those who go and make that decision on thier behalf so I would like to appeal to members to be fully present. It is.important that we are here. We claim to be Defenders of democracy. We are key in this democracy in Belize. We establish a balance in our democracy and our hold our leaders accountable. This is why we saw to it that the UN Convention against Corruption is signed and that we have a thirteenth senator. The BNTU was a big part of those things happening. So to whom much is given much is required but we have to be fully present. It cannot be the minority that makes the decision. However if you forfeit your right, your voice, it will be the minority that makes the decision.”