Year: 2025

Things are getting tense in the south, as eleven teachers from Stann Creek, including well-known union voices Ifasina Efunyemi and Eli Villalta, are now facing court after blocking the road in Dangriga on Wednesday. The protest, part of a broader push by the Belize National Teachers Union, saw teachers disrupting traffic on George Price Drive in a bold move to amplify their demands. In the case of Eli Villalta, he’s now facing a charge of obstructing a police officer in the line of duty. As we reported yesterday, similar demonstrations took place in Belize City, signaling a coordinated effort by the union to ramp up pressure on the government. In response, the Belize Police Department announced it was reviewing the law to determine what charges, if any, could be brought against the protesting teachers. Today, legal support for the educators began to take shape. The law firm Pitts Pitts & Associates has informed the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court that attorney Sharon Pitts will be representing the accused teachers. Attorney Norman Rodriguez is also involved in the case. News Five caught up with Ifasina Efunyemi earlier today to get her take on the unfolding legal battle.

 

Ifasina Efunyemi, Belize National Teachers Union

“Yesterday morning, we had mechanical failure right at the entrance of town. Several of us, on our way to work, had this issue. But we decided to take the opportunity to raise concerns with the public about our fight with the government over our eight-point-five percent salary adjustment, over the fact that we had frozen increments that are owed to us, the high cost of living, the high inflation rate and so on. And so, we took the opportunity to give out fliers to people who were nearby and we were just there, actually talking with each other and seeing how we could support and assist each other.  The police, they were already aware that this was happening and they appeared on the scene immediately, actually, and they just stood on the side and they were looking at us. They saw that we were just there peacefully, talking with each other; until the senior officers came on the scene. When they came on the scene the situation escalated because they brought a tow truck. They didn’t offer any mechanical support. They did not go to check our vehicle, they did not listen to us when we said we were waiting for a mechanic to come and check our vehicles. They didn’t pay attention to any of that.”

The fallout continues from Wednesday’s teacher-led protest in Dangriga, and now, the story is taking a sharp turn. According to union activist Ifasina Efunyemi, what began as a peaceful demonstration quickly escalated when police officers arrived—not to assist, but to physically confront the teachers who were blocking the road. Efunyemi claims that instead of de-escalating the situation, officers used force against educators who were simply standing up for their rights. Now, several of those teachers are facing obstruction charges. But Efunyemi believes this isn’t just about law enforcement, it’s political. She says only teachers from Dangriga are being targeted.

 

Ifasina Efunyemi, Belize National Teachers Union

“At the time, teachers who were on their way to work had gotten out of the buses and also came to the scene and so we started singing, “Solidarity Forever” because we were in unity with each other, and we were making the point to them that our fight was not just for us, but it was also for them. So, we know that they can’t engage in industrial action so we expected them to at least show some kind of understanding, compassion. They claim that their response was measured. Well when you look at the footage of what transpired out there, the measurement was very aggressive how they were behaving. And imagine, these were primarily male officers and they were being very physically aggressive to female teachers, alright. This does not look good for the police department at all. So that statement that was published by ASP Smith was erroneous, it was false.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“Now, I understand that you guys have been summoned to appear in court on June eleventh, as many as eleven of you guys? Speak to me a bit about that from, perhaps, the legal perspective where they are saying that you may have committed the offense of obstructing the officer in the effect of his duties.”

 

Ifasina Efunyemi

“They are saying that. They will have to prove that. They are the ones accusing us of that and it’s shameful that they would take that position. Imagine, scouring our laws to find how to stand against the very people that are standing for them, you see. And I see that as simply political manipulation. That’s all that boils down to.”

 

The teachers are set to appear before the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court on June eleventh.

 

Tensions are rising once again at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where the KHMHA Workers Union is turning up the pressure on the Government of Belize. This morning, union members gathered outside the hospital in a show of unity ahead of a critical mediation meeting with government officials. At the heart of the dispute is retirement security. The union is demanding that the government address the plight of over three hundred healthcare workers who currently have no pension to look forward to, despite years of frontline service in Belize’s public health system. Just last Friday, these workers took to the streets of Belize City, calling on the Briceno administration to act. But with the hospital operating as a statutory body, how willing is the government to meet their demands?

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

This morning, members of the KHMH Workers Union gathered outside the hospital, showing a united front ahead of a key meeting with government officials. Union President Andrew Baird addressed the crowd, laying out the union’s game plan for the talks. At the center of their demands is a pension plan for more than three hundred hospital employees who were hired between 2000 and 2017 and currently have no retirement benefits. The union says these workers have dedicated years—some, even decades—to Belize’s public health system and deserve financial security when they retire.

 

Andrew Baird, President, KHMH Workers Union

“We are focused and as you hear just now, we want our pension, that is our focus. That has been before and we continue to say it to the government even now that we want our pension, even more so that they have added the Coast Guard and they have added the grant aided teachers to receive full pension from the government. We deserve the same pension. We are equal as animals.”

 

After rallying outside, the KHMH Workers Union executive headed into the hospital’s conference room to lay out their demands. The meeting was brief, just over an hour. As government officials began leaving the building, they declined to speak with the media, saying they needed to consult with Cabinet before making any public statements.

 

Dr. Julio Sabido, C.E.O , Ministry of Health and Wellness

“No because we also commit to them that we give not even a statement.”

 

We did manage to catch a quick word with Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, who’s no stranger to the country’s books. He was at the table today, helping crunch the numbers, but even he kept things close to the chest.

 

Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary

“Very quick comment, useful meeting, productive. We have to go back, they have to go back, so I cant give anything of substance, but it was respectful and constructive.”

 

Paul Lopez

“You are obviously here to crunch the number.”

Joseph Waight

“That is still in the process, but it is a big number.”

 

The union’s executive must also go back to its members with government’s proposal. Their team came out of the discussion bearing a serious demeanor on their face. We heard from President Baird.

 

Andrew Baird

“Certainty it was an amicable meeting. Like with any other meeting we have hiccups here and there. But, it was amicable and we now go back to our members later tonight and reveal the position of the government and get a mandate from the members as to how we move forward. We will receive a letter from the government to clarify their position and we wait for that letter by five o’clock this evening.”

 

Paul Lopez

“So far is your proposal favorable to you and your pension?”

 

Andrew Baird

“We are yet to speak to our members so I do not want to put anything out there as yet, but we go back to our membership tonight.”

Paul Lopez

“Am I to take from the silence and expression on your faces that something like that is being proposed, falling short of what you are asking for?”

 

Andrew Baird

“I cannot say. We will be guided by our members.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How am I to translate or interpret the expression on your faces at this point?”

 

Andrew Baird

“Like all the time you come out and the sun is shining on your faces, you know but certainly it is a good day for us here at KHMH. But we need to be responsible and go back to our membership before we can state anything to the media or so.”

 

Following today’s mediation meeting, Union President Andrew Baird says the government appears more committed than ever before to resolving the issue. It’s a shift in tone that union members have been waiting to hear. But the road ahead still depends on the union’s next move. Baird says whether industrial action continues will be up to the membership, who are expected to make that decision during a meeting scheduled for tonight. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.