By the WBWTN News Team | May 10, 2025
BELMOPAN, Belize (WBWTN) – They said they were coming and they did. The teachers of Belize made their voices heard yesterday as thousands of them gathered in the capital city, dressed proudly in green, sending a clear message to the Government of Belize: enough is enough.
A sea of green flowed through the capital as BNTU members turned out in large numbers, joined by the Public Service Union in yellow shirts, standing shoulder to shoulder for a common cause.
This demonstration marked Phase One of the unions’ planned action. Teachers defied instructions from the Ministry of Education, which had issued a memo stating that classes were to remain open and students should attend school as usual. Not even threats from some Catholic school managements warning teachers they could lose a day’s pay could stop the massive turnout.
Yet the teachers came. Some rose as early as 3 a.m. to catch buses into Belmopan. For many, this was more than just a protest about pay—it was about future generations. “We are marching not just for us,” one teacher shared, “but for our children and their children. We are tired of being ignored.”
The Demands on the Table
The unions have put forward a list of demands they say must be met in full:
- An 8.5% raise in teacher salaries
- A bump in the minimum wage from $5 to $6
- The return of annual increments removed from public officers
Full implementation of the bargaining agreement introduced last November
Union leaders have made it clear: this is not a negotiation for scraps. They want all the demands addressed, not just one or two. Anything less, they say, would be a betrayal of the people they represent.
Government’s Position
In a comment outside of yesterday’s House proceedings, Prime Minister Johnny Briceño said meeting the salary demands would cost the government around $64 million, significantly more than the $300,000 recently approved for CEO salary increases. His words struck a nerve among protesters, who viewed the comparison as highlighting an imbalance in how different sectors are treated.
Inside the House, during the ceremonial opening of the new session, the Prime Minister focused instead on the growth of Belize’s BPO industry. He shared that the private sector is now paying out $150 million in salaries to over 16,000 workers in call centers across the country. But for many on the streets outside, the applause for private jobs raised questions about what’s being done for public servants.
What’s Next?
As BNTU President Nadia Caliz told the crowd, “This is just the beginning.” More phases of protest are expected if the government does not act soon.
The mood in Belmopan yesterday was more than frustration it was determination. The teachers are standing their ground, and they’ve made it clear: they are done asking politely.