Tag: 2025-07-01

What Will Teachers Do?

Public officers have made their voices heard, but the final word is still out on one critical group: the teachers.

Over 75% of Public Service Union (PSU) members voted in favour of accepting the government’s latest salary and increment proposal.

The Association of Public Service Senior Managers (APSSM) also approved the offer. But the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) has yet to announce its decision, and their vote could determine whether a months-long standoff with the government finally ends or drags on.

The current proposal offers a 4.5% salary increase starting in October, followed by an additional 4% over the next two years. Two long-frozen salary increments will also be restored during that time.

As for the BNTU, their members are still being polled. But with school out for the summer and many teachers living in remote areas without reliable internet access, the process has been slow. The union needs a majority vote from its membership to either accept or reject the proposal.

For now, the question hangs in the air: What will teachers do?

ComPol: ‘Once a Police Officer, You’re Always On Duty’

According to Police Commissioner Dr Richard Rosado, every officer, on or off the clock, is expected to act when a crime unfolds before them. “All police officers, whether they are on active duty or not, are deemed to be on duty. So, if an offence is committed in their view, by law, they must act,” he said.

Meanwhile, an officer’s first account says the reality isn’t always black and white.

As previously reported, one officer shared his experience, stating that while off duty but in uniform, he stepped in to stop three men attacking a woman. He was stabbed. They were charged and convicted. “The bullies became the victims. I was eventually cleared because luckily there was camera footage, but it definitely doesn’t worth it for me.”

“You either get hurt and are left to deal with it on your own, or you intervene to defend someone, justifiably use force, and somehow still end up being painted as the aggressor,” the officer shared. “The system will hang you out to dry.”

The question of whether police should intervene or not while off-duty comes after the fatal stabbing of 19-year-old Kevin De Paz in Caye Caulker, a case involving two off-duty officers who reportedly intervened in an assault.

The situation escalated and turned deadly. Both officers were injured, and De Paz was stabbed and killed.

Rosado has ordered a full investigation into the incident.

 

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