Teachers Charged After Protest; Union Alleges Political Targeting

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.