Several teachers who participated in a protest that blocked roads in Dangriga on June 4, 2025, are expecting to be summoned to appear in court and face charges related to an alleged unlawful assembly.
One of those teachers is Eli Villalta, who said on Facebook, “My summons have arrived, two charges which I have to show up to court for next week.”
Villalta is one of eleven teachers whose names appear on court summonses. The list includes Rosalyn Cornelius, Denise Henry, Derrick Martinez, Ifasina Efunyemi, Loretta Montero, Phidalia Castillo, Victor Williams, Clifton Lorenzo, Francis Williams, and Derrick Walton.
They are expected to appear before the Dangriga Court of Summary Jurisdiction on Wednesday, June 11 at 9:00 a.m. The documents state that the group “unlawfully assembled with the purpose of committing a riot,” an offense under Section 229 of the Criminal Code, Chapter 101 of the Laws of Belize.
Villalta has also been separately summoned for “causing obstruction to a police officer whilst in the execution of his duties,” under Section 38(1)(a) of Chapter 138 of Belize’s criminal laws.
The protest formed part of an ongoing salary dispute between the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the government. Teachers used their vehicles to block critical road junctions in Dangriga and Bella Vista, severely disrupting traffic flow and restricting movement for residents and emergency services.
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Smith noted that while “teachers have the right to express their grievances,” the police are obligated to act when a protest infringes on the rights of others. Smith said authorities gave protestors up to two hours to clear the roadways before taking what she described as “measured action.”
The summonses warn that failure to appear in court may result in ex-parte proceedings or arrest warrants being issued.