Next week Wednesday and Thursday, the Belize National Teachers Union is holding its 2017 Convention, and this time, the executive posts are up for grabs. Luke Palacio has served as the Union's president for 3 terms. So, in this election, he'll have to step aside and let someone else run for the post. Three candidates are offering themselves for president.
They are Mario Mesh from Corozal, Troy Coleman from Stann Creek, and well-known labour Senator Elena Smith, who's has a national profile as part of the Senate Select Committee that has been digging into Immigration Department irregularities.
This will be Elena Smith's second attempt at the presidency, and a text message we've seen suggests that, this time, she's playing to win.
The message which has been sent to union members, says, quote, "…Here's inviting u out to convention 2017 on [the] 19th and 20th [of] April. Free transportation and food for members. Trip to free zone and Chetumal, all free of cost. Come and vote for Elena Smith for President of BNTU."
Now, this invitation could be interpreted to mean that Elena Smith or her campaigners are inviting teachers out and as part of their attendance and support for her candidacy, they will be rewarded with a free trip to the free zone or to Chetumal. Now, that's the same kind of political patronage, or paying for support which the BNTU has harshly criticized both the PUP and the UDP for. So, observers have raised eyebrows at the implication that this message appears to suggest.
So, this evening, we asked her about it, and she said that the message is misleading. She explained that at every convention, the host branch organizes a trip for teachers to that part of the country. In this instance, Corozal Rural is hosting, and they are the ones offering the trip to the free zone and Chetumal. Smith stressed that this free trip is certainly NOT from her personally. She said that she, quote "does not have money to pay anyone" to vote for her. She added that if the teachers elect her, it will be on her merits as a labour unionist who's been attached to the Belize City Branch for the past 20 years.
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