And brothers Fortunato and Alfonso Noble, and Allan Kelly aren’t waiting for that meeting; today they went to picket in front of the BNTU Belize City Branch Office.
They picketed the BNTU to say that they are not happy that their children have been forced to stay home due to this strike. We stopped by the 3-man protest to hear directly about that stance, and here’s what they had to say:
Alfonso Noble - Protester
"I have 3 children, my daughter, my oldest is in 6th form, my son is 2nd form at St. John's College and my middle child is in St. Catherine’s Academy in 3rd form. Now 6th form my daughter has classes off and on meaning that some classes are held and some are not but by and large she is not in a regular class setting meaning that you go from one class period to another; so basically classes are interrupted. St. John's College, I dropped off my son at school this morning but I doubt they are having classes meaning they are just sitting in the classroom idling doing nothing. My daughter I didn't bring her because there was a notice from St. Catherine’s Academy which said they were not having classes because only 6 teachers were going to show up this morning. Now my children are out of school, it is 6 days now, they are out of school, they are doing absolutely nothing. Of course you try to supplement some work for them at home but I am not a teacher, I have no curriculum by which I guide my children by so I try and tell them open your book, find your literature books, read those, try to review some of the notes that have been given to you but that is as far as I can go. At 6 days in school as anybody can tell you, any student can tell you is a lifetime, is an eternity in terms of the material that could have been covered or should have been covered."
Allan Kelly - Protester
"Four of my kids they out of school plus my step daughter is out of school and da me di take this lick because end ah the day deh ma have to find people to look over them. So sometimes I have a son who is home right now alone with one of his cousin right, have to deh home because ih ma have to go da work. And the thing that hurt me, the thing that hurt me, I want Luke Palacio to hear this. The thing that hurt me, Luke Palacio we already get your issue, we already know your 8 demands what you are telling; oh you want the government to go abide. We already know it so why fi we kids will continue punish fi your 8 demands?"
Fortunato Noble - Protester
"I have one 11 year old out of classes right now, he has not been in classes since this thing started and 2 high schoolers here at SJC are not going to school as well. I have 2 in Adventist high school who are going to school; the teachers at the Adventist school are going to teach. So what is so different with the teachers from the Adventist school; paid by the government and the Catholic teachers? They have been asked, they have been begged, they have been requested to go back to the classes. No less than Nuncio the Pope's voice came to Belize to ask these people to go back to school. We are in solidarity with the teachers, I am a public servant myself I ask why they have to be out there. I want my 3% as well brother but I will not go about kicking the government in the rear to try and get my 3%. "
But, as viewers are aware, all 3 men are strong UDP supporters, which then immediately puts in question the motives for the picket. Is it simply politics as usual for these men? That’s what we asked, and here’s how they answered:
Fortunato Noble - Protester
"Luke Palacio is my opinion, Luke Palacio you are fighting the opposition, the PUP's agenda. You need to stop."
Daniel Ortiz
"They say it's also about these other 8 demands for good governance and ensuring that there is no corruption in public life or there is no possibility because I know that the UDP has this stance that there is none, there is no proof of that but they want to make sure they can be none in the future."
Fortunato Noble - Protester
"Which is fine and I'm for that as well but there are ways to negotiate, you cannot demand; if you're demanding you are not negotiating. I cannot come to your house and say Ortiz this is what, bam bam bam and lay down my thing. I am an UDP, I am a UDP supporter but I will not say I will stand by and see all kind of stupidness is being done and I will not say anything or stand up for it. I am a parent as well."
Daniel Ortiz
"You are all parents but you are also UDP and lines are drawn brother, there will be that suggestion that unno just the fight the UDP government battle."
Alfonso Noble - Protester
"Let me clarify that for you Daniel Ortiz. I am the editor of the Guardian Newspaper which is a political newspaper, a UDP political paper. I am also a talk show host for the Wave Radio, a UDP talk show host and a UDP radio station but first and foremost I am a parent. I am also a UDP supporter you know, I am one of the biggest UDP supporters out there but my children come first. My children need to be in school, depriving them of being in school for 6 days da no no joke you know."
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