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Today Education Minister Patrick Faber told us that government simply cannot afford to budge on this negotiating point which would cost the public purse tens of millions of dollars:..

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"I am not understanding that they are moving to a strike at this time. My understanding is that there quiet possibly could be a demonstration to show their disagreement with what it is the government is saying at this time. But a strike is severe and I believe that the teachers will act responsibly as well and that they would not necessarily get to that stage. What they have ask for is time to do their consultation, now how that consultation and getting feedback from the membership especially through the BNTU meetings turn into a strike and possible demonstration is what behooves us. I think people need to be aware that last week we held the most meeting of the collective bargaining negotiation and it was there that the ministerial sub-committee that has been task put to the staff side which is the union side the position that the government is taking which is that we are not able to afford at this time the 30% salary adjustment and I believe that is all this that is happening now in terms of the meetings with the BNTU are as a result of them responding to that position."

"When is it that you say the process has been broken down. We have in excess of 25 proposals that were put forward in this round of negotiations or the process and we agree on some and we don't agree on some, so if it is the position and I am not saying it is but this is question you need to ask them - if it is the position the minute we can't agree on one of these proposals everything goes to the water then in deed we are at an impasse and the process has broken down but I don't get the impression that that is where we are at."

"The financial of the country has presented figures to show and prove in fact that the government is really not at this time in a position to accommodate that request and of course heavily weighing on all of this was the whole super bond issue and I think this is also a reason why the matter is flaring up in the way it is flaring up now because it is believed that because the Prime Minister has announced this kind of ease if you will that will come from the super bond that it is now viewed by people in this country in particular the unions and I believe it is a false view that the government is now in a position to do this and the truth is that the figures has presented by our financial secretary which I will tell you is disputed by the unions will show that there is till going to be a significant hole in the budget that the government needs to fill and that it would be irresponsible of a government; this party or any other party to take on that kind of challenge at this time when we know that we are just trying to fix the situation and make it a little bit better."

"It would be irresponsible of the government at this time. Remember that we have just made the case that the government is not in a position to do several things financially including paying our bond holders. We said out rightly we could not do that and that is the real situation. How would it look now just at the heels of us tying this deal down and making sure that the bond holders understood that we are not in a position to do this for us to now be reckless and irresponsible in terms of saying to them now that we are going to take on this kind of request that the unions are proposing and then possibly land us in further financial problems."

Reporter
"Do you perceive the government making a compromise between now and the 29th? If so how will we deal with it because their game is set."

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"You ask the question right "I perceived," I can't tell you. The Minister of Finance is the Prime Minister and I believe the Prime Minister intends to make a presentation on this issue sometime next week."

Jules Vasquez
"The other side is saying that they are going to do so and so, children will be out of school, no school will be happening and you all will blink - you will find a way to find the money. Are you prepared to face those severe terms of negotiations?"

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"I think I answer that question already Jules but there is always the possibility that this will be the case, but we are banking on the fact that Belizeans understand fully well the plight that this country is in. teachers are one thing but there are also many parents who are out there. If it is the teachers take this hard line and the people of this nation see it as a different way there is going to be trouble."

Marleni, Reporter
"While there is that understanding - the prospective changes when you have your children at home nowhere to send them and nobody to watch them."

Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"Right and I am saying Marleni if parents view that the teachers are taking an unfair position then I am hoping that the teachers understanding what it is that they are doing and if the teachers then insist that we will go on strike because we are not getting what this one thing that we asking among 27 other things - although it's not everything that they are getting, let me be clear. We are going to not only demonstrate and send the signal but we would also go on strike and shutdown this nation, well then if the Belizean people are having another view and if it is they still insist on that then I believe yes they would be wrong."

Right now there are no emergency meetings planned between the two sides. The BTNU has not come up with its final position. Yesterday the Belize District took an overwhelming "yes" vote in favor of a protest and, if necessary, a sustained strike.