And while it was Orange Walk in the morning, in the afternoon, the action moved to Corozal. The crowd was smaller, and maybe less amped up, but the themes were the same: meaning a definite amber alter for the UDP Government. Here's that story:..
Daniel Ortiz reporting
The BNTU rally in Corozal wasn't as large as the Orange Walk one; we estimated about 200 teachers showed up, but they're reporting from their attendance register, it was closer to 250.
Whatever the final number, majority of the schools in the Corozal district got a holiday.
Again the message was the same, advocacy.
Zeni Perdomo - Member, BNTU Corozal Town Branch
"We are all leaders and we have to teach our children the same way we teach them manners, we have to teach them civics. We have to teach them to stand up for what is right. We have to teach them to fight against injustice and against corruption and that is exactly what we are doing today. How could I go into my class and tell my students - you have to stand up for what is right and then they don't see me doing it. Students learn by example and we are teachers; we are their role models."
And once again, it was reiterated that this was not all about the salary adjustment.
Zeni Perdomo - Member, BNTU Corozal Town Branch
"It's more than a salary adjustment. I think this is long overdue. I think we've had too much patience. I think the wrong thing that we have done is waited so long and we are now taking it district by district, so that we give a message that we are all together."
Another teacher did admit that it was partly about their pay.
Fidel Santoya - Member, BNTU Corozal Branch
"At the end of the day we want a salary adjustment which is I think rightly needed especially in these times."
Mike Rudon, Reporter Ch5
"Government says that the teachers are being irresponsible to be out here, have schools close down, the students aren't in school. What's your response to that?"
Fidel Santoya - Member, BNTU Corozal Branch
"Anybody can have their opinion and we have ours."
Daniel Ortiz
"What's yours?"
Fidel Santoya - Member, BNTU Corozal Branch
"I strongly believe that in all cases in all government we the teachers have always tried to struggle for salary adjustment because imagine if we were getting the same salary as teachers 20-30 years ago - we would be getting like $75 a month. We need to be updated with the current situation."
The BNTU will be holding another rally in Belize on next week Friday. They will then move to Cayo on January 24, and then to Stann Creek and Toledo on January 31.
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