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So, today was just a teaser of what the BNTU - and the joint unions - have in store as they ease into phase two of their industrial action campaign. Courtney Menzies has this story.

These vehicles are all experiencing mechanical issues - or at least, that's what the drivers claim. It's a form of protest that the BNTU has utilized and at 6:00 this morning, in front of the monument at mile two, five vehicles blocked the entrance and exit to Dangriga. The drivers? All teachers who say they all had mechanical problems all at once. Even a bicycle seemed to be suffering from a mechanical failure.

Police quickly responded with a tow truck to haul the vehicles out of the road and end the blockage. And that's when the protest got rowdy.

The teachers surrounded a vehicle in an attempt to block the police officers from getting to it. Over the next ten minutes, the officers then tried to forcibly move the teachers by shoving them out of the way. The teachers lifted their hands in the air to show that they are not resisting - while forming a scrim with their bodies.

Eventually, and after much "hauling and pulling", the officers hooked the vehicle onto the tow truck and with the owner sitting inside the driver's seat, the car was lifted onto the bed. The teacher put on her seatbelt and complained that someone took her key just as she was about to drive off.

A lot of scenery and militancy early in the morning from the Dangriga branch. Eventually they cleared the road but the message of defiance was sent.

According to the ASP Stacy Smith, the officers were instructed not to use excessive force.

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
"We as the department would like to stress that much leeway was given to the teachers that were apart of this morning's activity they were afforded up to 2 hours to remove their vehicles and disperse and it was only after this request was not met that actions were taken, and the actions that were taken were very measured, the commissioner had emphasised with the command of the department that it is important that we recognise that all actions that are taken are measured, respectful and in alignment with effective and lawful management of civil descent."

But the police still had their hands full in the afternoon because at lunchtime, there were a series of blockages across Belize City, starting with the Douglas Jones/Freetown intersection, then at Poundyard Bridge, and then at the junction on North Front Street.

These blockages lasted about fifteen minutes each but the president of the Belize City branch says it's just a warning for now.

Coral Lord, President, BNTU Belize City Branch
"BNTU, our branch, along with all our branches nationally have decided that we need to show the government that we're serious about getting our adjustment and our frozen increments since they have already promised them to us. However, I believe that the prime minister said ni modos, or something to that effect, that we are holding the children hostage. We're not. they have been holding us hostage as our president rightly said, both governments, when they are not in power, they can put on a green shirt, they can stand beside us and they make a lot of promises. But now they're in the driver's seat, the narrative has changed. The narrative has changed and we want them to know, we've already earned what they have taken away from us."

"In the coming days and week ahead, it will be even more serious than this because we are prepared to go the full measure and the full extent that we need to go to get what we know we have worked for and that we deserve."

She also made it clear that the BNTU has rejected the government's latest proposal of a phased increase and that next time, the protests will intensify:

Coral Lord, President, BNTU Belize City Branch
"We have written to them, the JUNT has written to them and we are still waiting for a response and that is where we are at this time. They have written to them saying clearly, that the members, the three unions, reject the offer that the government gave us for the 3% and the one frozen increment at the start of the 2026/2027 financial year. We want what we know they are able to give us."

"We know that the public is with us. We know that it's a busy hour, we know that we have gotten the attention that we needed and if we need to do this again, it will be for longer."

There were also similar traffic blocking protests in Louisville, Corozal and at the entrance to Corozal town. While this morning Toledo teachers did their thing at the Bella Vista junction. It was a message sent nationally and the president said they will know if it was heard when they get back an answer today:

Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"We are still negotiating. Today Wednesday, government is supposed to respond to us. That response will determine the next step forward."

This afternoon, roads were also briefly blocked in Esperanza and Santa Elena in the Cayo District.