Guatemalan Teachers
Block Belize-Guatemala Bridge
GUATEMALA - The Belize National Teachers
Union held a Council of Management meeting
today – but at news time – we were unable to
find out from the union what is the decision
going forward.
But in Guatemala, those teachers aren’t
playing. Thousands of them have shut down
all major roadways demanding a 16% pay
increase. And in Melchor those major
roadways meant shutting down the bridge
between Belize and Guatemala.
General Manager of the Border Management
Agency Gonzalo Rosado told us that no
vehicles were allowed to pass into Belize
form the Guatemalan side today. According to
our reports, only pedestrians, specifically,
only students from Guatemala studying in
Belize were allowed to cross.
This has affected trade and tourism.
Specifically, tour busses from Belize
heading to Tikal have encountered
difficulties according to Rosado. He
stressed that the border is open and
operational. But that doesn’t count for much
when the other side is effectively closed.
The teachers have also blocked the roadways
connecting Guatemala with Honduras, El
Salvador and Mexico in a deliberate attempt
to cripple the tourism industry and in so
doing, starve its government of revenue.
useful service to the community, and
contributing to the public debate supporting
democracy." |
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