Letter to the Editor

Editor, Belize Times

Dear Editor

I turned on my radio last Friday just in time to hear Education Minister Patrick Faber attempt to beg pardon of the teachers and churches that he has treated with the utmost disrespect. As a Catholic schoolteacher for over 25 years I was disheartened to hear this “little boy” insult and for all intents and purposes call Bishop Dorrick Wright a liar. How did we as a people reach the point where a Parliamentarian, a representative of the people, treat our Catholic Bishop with such disdain? To now beg forgiveness for the transgressions of your mouth is not enough Mr. Faber. You need to do serious penance.

For the record, I DO NOT support the Education Commission. I am not an active supporter of any political party, although my years of experience in the classrooms have given me a front row view of both parties while in the government. For me the PUP has a better record of promoting, enhancing and growing our education system. But I have also seen how politics enters the classroom.

The Church-State partnership has worked well in Belize for many years. Mr. Faber, you are a product of this partnership, as was every Education Minister before you. What motive do you have for changing the system? Is your appetite for power and control insatiable?

The Ministry of Education should set policy and create the enabling environment for our education system to produce the best Belizeans possible. If the school is failing in its teaching mandate, then it is right for the Minister to step in and correct the failure. But the right to hire the teacher that best fits the goal AND traditions of the school should be the exclusive domain of the school.

I ask all teachers to let their voices be heard where this issue is concerned. Let the government know that they must consult with us, the stakeholders and field officers first. Then these ill-advised measures like the Education Commission would never come about. It would save a lot of time and resources.

I am totally fed up with the silence and compliant inactivity of the BNTU and am proud of Bishop Wright for standing firm with his and the church’s position.

Minister, your ‘mea culpa’ was not enough. Abandon this Commission before you truly do serious damage to Belize’s education system.

Sincerely,

___________________

Marta Itza

Orange Walk

Dear Editor,

Please allow me space in your newspaper to express my views in thee following article.

At the last sitting of the House of Representative on Friday December 11^th, P.M. Barrow went on a tirade to berate and humiliate former P.M. Musa for making secret deals with Lord Ashcroft. He then compared himself and his Ministers to be accountable, transparent and above board. He was also very descriptive in presenting a scene where former P.M. Musa was seen at a private gathering with a silly grin on his face, while Lord Ashcroft had him cornered against a concert wall pointing in his face in a threatening way.

Little did P.M. Barrow know that this very scene would be played out within minutes after the House adjourned by one of his Ministers. This was in the person of non other than the Hon. Rene Montero playing the part of Mr. Musa. Instead of having a silly grin on his face, he looked more lie concerned and frightened hog against the concrete background. Playing the part of Lord Ashcroft was Jules Vasquez. Instead of pointing in the Hon. Montero’s face, it was a microphone that was pointed in his face.

On a more sober note, what I found to be disturbing is that with the overwhelming opposition to this deep sea joint venture, the Hon. Montero could not satisfy the public when he was asked by Jules Vasquez if he could categorically state that these Jamaican fishing boats would not be allowed to fish now and hereafter in our waters. Instead, what the Hon. Said was come next March 2010, he would assign a managing team to put place rules to regulate and monitor deep sea fishing in our waters. This statement raised more questions then answers.

• 1. Are the Jamaicans, Koreans, Venezuelans, Japanese and hell knows who else’s fishing fleets temporarily put on hold until March 2010?
  2. What was it that convinced the Jamaican fishing fleet to travel all he way to Belize with fishing gears designed for shallow water fishing?
  3. It is strongly rumored that large sum of money was paid out. Did the Jamaicans paid people in high places, so much so, that they came ready to fish?

While we cannot prove that money was passed, it would be very difficult for this government to convince John Public otherwise. Let’s not forget that there exist documents to prove that a certain minister in this present administration who was at this time a civil servant, once stole twenty- two (22) hogs from Central Farm. When the P.M. George Price did not entertain him in his shameful and dishonest practice, he had to pay back for the hogs.

I would like to end by asking all Belizeans to let’s put pressure on our area representatives, who in turn will have no other choice but to put pressure on our area Rene Montero to scrap this deep sea joint venture or else they, the area representatives will have to face the wrath of their constituency.

Respectfully,

____________________

Paul Robinson