Category: Belize District

It has been six days since the Board of Governors at Belize High School took a decision to terminate former Principal Jamie Usher. But, is the school prepared to settle with Usher for alleged damages as a result of her termination? News Five is in possession of a leaked letter that was furnished to all board members on February sixteenth. The letter was written by Barrow and Williams LLP and signed by Dean Barrow, acting on behalf of Jamie Usher, their client. In the leaked letter, Barrow suggests that his client is entitled to a substantial damages award and would prefer not to litigate. News Five understands that Belize High School has scheduled a meeting with parents for Wednesday to discuss these developments. And today, the school issued a press release denying suggestions made by the United Women’s Group that the termination was based on issues of gender.   In its release, the school state, “Neither is the issue about women being supported in leadership positions, and, as testament to this, the interim principal is another female leader at the school. It regrets that UWG, a political organization, would take a stance on an internal private matter without knowing the facts”.  The school has also sought the services of attorney Audrey Matura. When we spoke with her today, she was not at liberty to share any details in relation to a legal challenge. She noted that the school is preparing to meet with parents and that the matter will first be discussed with them. She did however expound on the school’s latest press release.

 

Audrey Matura, Attorney

“It is only the United Women’s Group from the PUP that has said it is a gender issue, absolutely not. As a matter of fact, BES and BHS would not survive if it was not for all the women who are leaders there in the classroom, even the principal, administration, the women outnumber the men. Definitely it is not a gender issue. I can tell you it is a deeper issue than that. It is a pity that is a red herring and it has taken a political slant but like I say it is a private company and we would have preferred the matter stay in house. But I can categorically say that it is not a gender issue.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Are you able to speak whether from a legal or parent perspective what those deeper issues might be?”

 

Audrey Matura

“Now you wanted to know what are the deeper issues, again speaking legally, under the Labor Act, if you terminate someone with reasons and if that reason amounts to gross misconduct and like matters it simply means you are telling the person they have to leave now, you get no severance, especially if you work for more than five or ten years there is something for you to get. You get your notice pay only and your salary and your vacation pay. Your severance is usually your package. So I think the best way to put that is what is the lawful and legal position, that the high school acted in the law and whatever internal matters as juicy as it may be and people dying to hear, the board has taken a very professional stand saying the interest of the children comes first and putting their dirty laundry out there will help.”

Matura further noted that Belize High School regrets that Jamie Usher’s termination has become an issue in the public domain. She says it is also regrettable that the matter has taken on a political spin, when asked if the board considered the fact that Usher is the wife of a prominent P.U.P. Minister. Here is what she told us.

 

Audrey Matura, Attorney

“Isn’t that minister the Minister of Public Service; it is so ironic how life can be. As the school it is very regrettable that this even made news. And you notice, it took us a week later to response and our response is as best as possible and reasonable and rational one to allay the concerns of any parents who don’t know the details, two to assure the teachers that their job is secure, the reputation of the school we are doing everything to protect it and to assure the students that their academic program will continue. So it is very regrettable. However you mentioned that it took a political spin. Of all people, the minister responsible for public service knows very well about hiring and firing. The government is well known for that. And, if anyone could look at the situation and would know the details they would know that to operate under the law as the board did and to terminate under section 37 was the best option at the time.”

 

Not only is Matura now the attorney representing Belize High School, she is also a parent at the private institution. As a parent, Matura spoke a bit more candidly about her experience with the former principal. Here is what she told us.

 

Audrey Matura, B.H.S. Parent

“Whatever miss Usher did as a leader, whatever passion she had, whatever work she did, that is the work she did. Nobody can take that away. So my personal objective and the objective o the board and members and staff is not discredit anyone as a professional. As a parent, my ultimate concern was that on the fourteenth of February Ms Usher sent out an email to all of us parents, she had been communicating to us parents before, parents of students going away on these trips that represent the school and my only regret was that on that on that morning when I woke up she had sent an email to me and all the other parents and unfortunately she made a decision to copy my child and all the other children in that email. I am speaking here as a parent now. I thought that was most inappropriate. There are certain things in that email I believe was confidential and certain things my child should have never read. I don’t believe that when adults have differences you bring in the child. I do a lot of family matters and as a parent I can tell you that I think it is most inappropriate to drag children through the battles of adults. For me, that could not fly.”

Former Port Loyola Area Representative Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez called another press conference today, a little over a month after delivering a sheaf of signed petitions to the Governor General back in January to trigger a recall referendum.  Martinez is seeking to have the voters of Port Loyola recall Gilroy Usher’s seat in the House of Representatives via a referendum.  But he is disheartened that several weeks have gone by and he is yet to get a formal response from the Governor General, despite what he believes are legitimate signatures that satisfy the requirement to trigger the recall mechanism.

 

Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola

“I am very disappointed in terms of what has transpired.  The petition was delivered on the sixteenth of January, 2024, and as the law allows the governor general to pass it to the Chief Elections Officer forthwith.  Upon checking on Friday, well from Thursday, I called the Office of the Governor General and said to the secretary that I believe by law that the answer should be forthcoming by tomorrow which was the sixteenth, Friday, the sixteenth.  Friday morning, I called and the secretary’s response was that let her check.  After waiting on the phone for like two minutes, she came back and said no response.  I called again about minutes to three that afternoon and it was the same thing, no response.  So I tend to mean say, the month should expire, in my view, checking with attorneys and so, with attorney, Mr. Dean Barrow.  Dean Barrow said, probably, it could mean the sixteenth is up to twelve o’clock Friday night.  Fair.  I called yesterday morning, no response back from Elections and Boundaries.  That is the answer I get.  Called this morning again and no response back.”

According to Martinez, he attempted to get an update on the status of the petitions through the vice chairman of the United Democratic Party who sits on the Elections and Boundaries Commission.

 

Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez, Former Area Rep, Port Loyola

“Through the representative of the UDP on the commission, Mr. Alberto August, he tried to intervene and being on the commission, to ask the commission and the Chief Elections Officer about the petition.  And, rightfully so, she said she had no comment on the petition but referred the answers about the petition back to the governor general which, in my view, by law the governor general, now I don‘t know why or what is causing the stalling.  I don‘t know if the Chief Elections Officer has gotten the petition.  I don‘t know what is the situation but I noh di get no answer and at least you should get answers from the head of the stream, as the law allows for the timeframe.  And so, I don‘t know the interpretation or the meaning of the word, in terms of the governor general, forthwith and I don‘t know what it means when you say you could be less than a month but not more than a month fi verify the signature.  I don‘t know where the bottleneck is and it raises concerns, especially to the people of Port Loyola.  We have checked around and spoke with Senior Counsel Dean Barrow to see the challenge that exists.  One thing I want to make clear, you know, is that I, in dealing with this petition, I was very wary and careful of all the steps I was following in the law because like what I said to the governor general when I delivered the petition on the sixteenth of January.  There is an old saying that was said to me by my old boss, Mr. Barrow, ’Have trust in God, but still tie your camel.”  And that is what, to me, that old phrase comes to roost today.”