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BNTU Sends Lawyer Letter To Hon. Faber
posted (November 11, 2016)
On Tuesday,, we told you how the Ministry will extend the school year by cutting into holiday days. That's because the Minister of Education, and the BNTU are unable to even sit down and talk to each other about other possible chances to make up the time lost during the 11-day strike.

The Ministry has said that the pay cut is coming at the end of the Month, but the BNTU is trying to get him to pump the brakes on that course of action.

They have hired attorney Eamon Courtenay, who wrote a letter to the Minister dated Wednesday, November 9. It reads, quote, "…The Government announced that it will be withholding from its November contributions the amounts corresponding to the salaries for the days when teachers were on strike in October. Therefore, the Government intends that the deductions from teachers' salary will be made at the end of November 2016.

We are of the view that the decisions taken by the Government are… unlawful, and unconstitutional, as they contravene the Education and Training Act, the Education Rules and sections 3b and 13 (1) of the Belize Constitution." End quote.

The letter make it clear that the teachers will act, and the attorney says, Quote, "We are instructed to demand that the Government rescind these decisions forthwith. If we do not receive a favorable response by Monday, November 14, 2016, we are instructed to institute a claim… and an application for urgent interim relief.

We would hope that these court applications will not be necessary." End Quote.

So, that's where it's at, if the Ministry does not backpedal, the BNTU will sue them. We've not been able to find out what the Minister's response is, but we'll follow it closely and update you in our Monday Newscast.

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