2025-05-29 - Greater Belize Media

BNTU Members Rally Nationwide with #WeMatter Movement

A wave of green swept through the country today, as members of local B.N.T.U branches took to the streets in a powerful show of unity and purpose. It’s all part of a coordinated picketing action plan aimed at raising awareness and rallying community support for their cause. The day began early, with members wearing green shirts and holding up bold posters as they lined major highways and roads near schools. The message was clear and visible to all commuters this morning: “We matter.” By lunchtime, the action moved to the heart of communities, drawing the attention of parents, business owners, and passersby. The atmosphere was peaceful but passionate, as members engaged with the public and shared their messages. But the action didn’t stop there. Throughout the day, members visited local businesses and institutions, distributing flyers and speaking directly with shopkeepers and community leaders. The goal? To build solidarity and spread awareness far and wide. Photos were snapped, stories were shared, and social media lit up with the hashtag #WeMatter, as members flooded platforms with images and updates from the field. This grassroots campaign is more than just a protest—it’s a movement. And today, it made its presence known.

Coral Lord, B.N.T.U. President, Belize District

“We are out here today educating and getting support from the general public for our cause. As we all know, we have been agitating for a salary adjustment. We are requesting an 8.5% salary adjustment and the return of our two frozen increments. So today we are just out here to highlight and to make it known that we are going the full length and we are in phase two of our industrial action where we are asking the public for support on this cause because we all know that when the spending power of teachers increase, the spending power of all the other persons in our society increases as well. We support local businesses, we support mom and pops stores and all the business community. The PM was not being honest in his statement. We all know the politricking that they do. When we are out here and they are not in government, they come out and support us fully. But when they are the ones in the government seat, they forget all the promises they made and the support they lent to the teachers. The PM is saying that they are giving us over fourteen percent, but that’s not true. We can all go back and fact-check him. The document that he sent to us saying exactly what the offer was specifically states that he’s willing to give us a three percent salary adjustment come first of October and the return of one frozen increment at the start of the financial year 2026/2027.”

KHMH Workers Union Must Issue 21 Says Notice Before Industrial Action

The Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority Workers Union, or KHMHAWU, has announced it will begin industrial action tomorrow afternoon, citing a prolonged deadlock in pension negotiations with the Government of Belize. The union says it’s had enough. After months of stalled talks, KHMHAWU is launching what it calls a “phased and lawful” campaign to demand fairness and long-term security for its members. The action begins with peaceful workplace demonstrations, including staff wearing “Gimme Mi Pension” T-shirts as a show of unity. But this is just the beginning. The union has outlined a tiered plan that could escalate to a full strike if no progress is made. That includes a “go-slow” approach at work, increased media engagement, and a potential 21-day strike notice. In response, the Labor Department has reminded the union that under the Settlement of Disputes and Essential Services Act, any industrial action must first be reported to the Minister of Labor. Today, we spoke with Labor Commissioner Rissela Dominguez-Patt, who emphasized the importance of following the legal dispute resolution process.

Rissela Dominquez-Patt, Labour Commissioner

“One of the things they have to do before any trade dispute or strike is that they need to report the matter to the minister. Once they report this matter to the minister then in twenty-one days the minister would decide if it will take a mediation or based on the circumstances of the dispute whether the matter would be taken to the tribunal and thereafter whatever decision the tribunal makes, if the decision is taken to the tribunal then that decision is final. Any institution that falls under this act cannot just get up and say we are going to strike. The primary objective or goal of this legislation is to ensure that they are uninterrupted, they do not interrupt their services, because they provide critical service to the public. Any interruption can cause serious damage to the public. That is why these organizations are under this legislation.”

Paul Lopez

“Have you all received any letter or notice as is required by law?”

Rissela Dominquez-Patt

“That is what we are telling the union, we work very closely with employers and workers. We communicate with KHMHWA the union and KHMH. Earlier this month we brought them together for a different situation. We are constantly in communication with them. In terms of this grievance we have not received anything in writing or anything at all form any of the parties.”

Strike Action Without Notice May Result in Imprisonment

Labor Commissioner Rissela Dominguez-Patt is reminding unions that any action that disrupts work, whether it’s walking off the job or slowing down services, counts as a strike under Belizean law. And that means there are rules to follow. In the past, some KHMH Workers Union members claimed they were simply on break or using a day off during protests. But the law is clear: if the action causes work to stop or services to be interrupted, it’s considered a strike. And there are consequences. Violating the rules under the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act could lead to fines or even jail time. The law also outlines a formal process for resolving disputes, which includes notifying the Minister of Labor before any industrial action begins.

Rissela Dominquez-Patt, Labour Commissioner

“Under section fifteen which is one of the section we empathized the employer or the worker, in this case the union, they shall, and we have to respect that, they shall not take part in any strike in connection with any dispute. If there is a dispute they shall not take part in any strike. The legislation provides a definition of a strike. It says the cessation of work by a body employed. What do we understand by cessation of work. It does not say full cessation or part cessation. In terms of cessation, we mean any stop of work. So any think that has to do will stop of work whether part or complete that is cessation. So if you are going to take any action you need to understand how this will affect the work you do. Will that be considered a cessation of work, whether part fully.”

Paul Lopez

“What could be the possible ramifications as outlined in the law in the event they decide to take any one of these actions outside of presenting a notice?”

Rissela Dominquez-Patt

“If they fail to present a notice it means they cannot strike and if they proceed to strike it means that anything in the legislation is an offense and that offense is punishable under summary conviction. So there is a fine and there is imprisonment. So if we decide to enforcement the legislation, they are breaking the law in small terms, there will be a fine and possible imprisonment. Labour Commissioner Rissela Dominquez emphasized that every citizen is afforded the right to freedom of speech under the constitution. So, they can engage certain actions as long as it does not stop the essential service they provide.”

Grievance Mechanism for BNTU’s Industrial Action

If you’re wondering whether teachers need to give twenty-one days’ notice before going on strike—the answer is no. Labor Commissioner Rissela Dominguez-Patt has clarified that the Settlement of Disputes in Essential Services Act does not apply to the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU). That means teachers aren’t legally required to give advance notice under that specific law. However, that doesn’t mean they can strike without any rules. According to the Labor Commissioner, the BNTU must still follow the grievance procedure outlined in their collective bargaining agreement, a contract between the union and the government that sets out how disputes should be handled. So, while teachers have more flexibility than some essential service workers, they’re still expected to follow the proper steps before walking off the job.

Rissela Dominquez-Patt, Labour Commissioner

“The teachers as I mentioned are only fourteen, so they do not fall under this specific legislation. They fall under a different regulation, that is why they were able to do and are able to do what they are doing. So, they don’t fall under this legislation.”

Paul Lopez

“And they have free reign to engage in their demonstration, sickouts, during lunch time picketing, whatever actions they intend to do.”

Rissela Dominquez-Patt

“Like I said they would not fall under this legislation, so they don’t have to provide that twenty-one days’ notice so that there is intervention.”

Paul Lopez

“But they did, which is not necessary.”

Rissela Dominquez-Patt

“The unions normally like to act within the legislation. So, they like to respect what is there. I think that the unions, especially the teachers union, are trying to ensure they communicate what they intend to do, but definitely they don’t fall under this legislation.”

P.M. Briceno: “I love teachers so much I married a teacher”

During Wednesday’s budget debate, Prime Minister John Briceño addressed the ongoing standoff between his administration and the Belize National Teachers Union. Speaking with reporters earlier in the day, he acknowledged the tension but later struck a more personal tone during the debate’s adjournment. In a lighthearted moment, the Prime Minister said, “I love teachers so much—I married one.” The comment drew a few smiles, but the underlying issue remains serious, as negotiations between the government and the union continue.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“This government, our PUP government, we just don’t speak to our teachers, we work with them, because it is only through collaboration and shared purpose that we can fulfill our mission, ensuring that every child is equipped with the knowledge and skill to be able to contribute to nation building. I want to make something absolutely clear to the teachers and especially to the union leaders, I have history with the BNTU. My mother was a teacher, a proud member of the BNTU. I marched as a child in Belize City with the BNTU. So when I stand with them and tell them this is what I can do, it is not that I don’t want to. I would love to give them more. I love teachers so much I married a teacher, Rosana Briceño”

UB Faculty Union Demands GOB Keep $10M Funding Promise

A bold call for accountability is echoing out of Belmopan tonight, as the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union is demanding that the government make good on its promises. In a press release issued today, the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union expressed deep disappointment with the Government of Belize for failing to follow through on a key financial commitment, one that directly affects the future of the country’s national university. The union is pointing to a 2020 pledge made by the current administration to reverse a twenty-four percent budget cut imposed by the previous government and to increase the university’s subvention over five years. But the recently unveiled 2025/2026 national budget tells a different story. The subvention remains at seven-point-six-five million dollars, falling short of the ten-million-dollar target previously promised. The UBFSU warns that without this increase, the university’s operations will continue to suffer. That could mean higher tuition fees for students at a time when many families are already struggling with the rising cost of living. While the government has expressed a desire to keep tuition affordable, the union argues that without proper funding, the university simply can’t deliver the quality education Belizeans deserve. The UBFSU is now urging the government to immediately reinstate the ten-million-dollar subvention, calling it essential not just for the university’s survival, but for the nation’s development as a whole.

NTUCB Backs Unions, Demands Government Accountability

The National Trade Union Congress of Belize is standing firmly behind its affiliate unions, including the B.N.T.U., P.S.U., APSSM, KHMHA Workers Union, and U.B. Faculty and Staff Union, as they push back against what they call unfair treatment by the government. In a strong statement, the NTUCB says workers have every right to protest, strike, and demand better, especially when their calls for salary adjustments and the unfreezing of increments are ignored—while top officials receive hefty contracts and pay raises. The NTUCB is calling on the Briceño administration to pay KHMHA workers their overdue pensions, reinstate salary increments and provide an eight-and-a-half percent raise, and restore the University of Belize’s ten-million-dollar subvention. The union umbrella group says it’s ready to take action, warning that continued neglect will only strengthen the collective voice of Belize’s workers.

PM Briceño Attends Regional Economic Summit in Honduras

Belize is once again taking its place at the regional table, as Prime Minister John Briceño touches down in Honduras for a high-level economic summit. Today, Prime Minister Briceño arrived in Tegucigalpa to participate in the annual Meeting of Governors of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration. This key event brings together leaders from across Central America to discuss strategies for economic growth, development financing, and regional cooperation. Belize has been a member of CABEI since 2006, using the partnership to fund projects that reduce poverty, boost infrastructure, and strengthen ties with neighboring countries. The Prime Minister was warmly received by Honduras’ Third Vice President, Renato Florentino Pineda. He will be joined at tomorrow’s meeting by Cherie Nisbet, Belize’s Ambassador to Honduras. As Belize continues to navigate regional and global economic challenges, its presence at CABEI underscores a commitment to collaboration and sustainable development.

Shock and Concern After Reported Rape at Compre

A serious incident at Belmopan Comprehensive High School has left the community shaken. On Wednesday, while teachers across the country were participating in a national sickout, students at the school were sent home early. But not everyone left campus. According to reports, a female student later returned to the school and told the vice principal and school medic that she was bleeding. At first, staff believed it was a menstrual issue and sent her to the hospital to be safe. But soon after, a family member contacted the school with a disturbing claim: the girl had been raped. Police have launched an investigation. Sources say both the alleged victim and the accused are first-form students, meaning they are both minors. Officers were seen on campus taking statements from students who may have witnessed or known about the incident. The school’s principal declined to comment, saying only that they would respond when possible. Meanwhile, the public is expressing growing concern about student safety, especially during times when schools are understaffed or unsupervised. Under Belizean law, if both individuals involved in a sexual offense are minors, the accused could face up to five years in prison. This case is still developing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Cop Caught Firing Gun in Public, Granted Bail

A Belize City police officer is facing serious scrutiny tonight after a video surfaced showing him firing a gun into the air in public. The officer is forty-three-year-old Richard Gillett, a resident of Dean Street and a serving member of the Belize Police Department. The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday night, on Antelope Street Extension, and was captured on video that quickly went viral. Gillett was arraigned today on a single charge of discharging a firearm in public. Initially, the charge was filed under the Firearms Act, which would have meant automatic remand to prison. However, in a twist, the charge was later amended to fall under the Summary Jurisdiction Act, allowing the court to grant bail. Magistrate Ludlow Black approved bail in the sum of one thousand dollars, with one surety of the same amount. Gillett, who appeared in court without legal representation, has since sought the services of well-known attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley. Bradley met with his client shortly after bail was posted and told reporters that he hopes the matter will be handled internally by the police department. He claims Gillett felt threatened during the incident and only fired the weapon into the air, not at anyone. Gillett is due back in court on July twenty-fourth, 2025, as the case continues to unfold. Meanwhile, questions remain about the circumstances leading up to the shooting and whether further disciplinary action will be taken.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney-at-law

“Not every time a police make a little small mistake dehn fi tek wahn lee mole hill and turn it into a mountain. The officer didn’t point his gun at anybody, nobody was in danger. He had a reason why he did that. You can see from the video [that] somebody was coming out of the little police booth. You could hear the voices that they were being disrespectful and aggressive to the officer. Which crime he committed? A police officer has been issue with a firearm to protect himself and to protect us, it should be an administrative matter. I appreciate that the police have changed the charge sheet to charge him under the Summary Jurisdiction Act which allows the magistrate to have granted bail to him. But di man noh shoot aata nobody, nobody was in danger. He was the one who was being aggressed. He was the one who felt like, you know, so I am hoping that they would withdraw the charge and he goes to a tribunal and the matter is straightened out.”