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Today, we asked the Minister of Education about it...

Patrick Faber, Minister Of Education
"These persons who have come indicated that they were in some kind of situation whether medical or financial or in the case of the students in Guyana where there would have been some indication that there was political unrest or some kind of safety issue there and so I suspect that when I hear from CEO Annie today that will be the kind of response but I do promise to look more deeply into the matter today once I get a chance to be freed up in terms of those students in Guyana."

"The of Education stands ready to support students. I'm not sure about financially. I know that's the case of the students from Guyana who have said they want to come home but we can't afford to pay for the quarantine, this is a wider problem for the government because of our financial crunch and the ministry is certainly not in a position to support that to the full extent that the request has been coming in but we are prepared to look at it and see where we can help."

Plan For Belize's Virtual Graduation

We did try - without success - to get a comment from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, but we are still waiting on a response. And while those students' education is in limbo - for fourth form students here in Belize their graduation is what's in limbo.

Now, many fourth form finishers kinda signed off when the whole COVID thing started, but for those who did not, there will be a virtual graduation in two weeks. Here are the details from the chief education officer:

PSE Will Still Stand

And while that is the treat for fourth form finishers, those students finishing up standard six already got their that; they got to finish their primary school education without taking the PSE!

But, the Minister announced today that they will still have to take it once they get into first form:...

School In August Cause Teachers Need Their Holiday

Of course that will be taken after they resume classes in August. But, we wondered, why August? Why not July? Since Belize is trying to balance between COVID cases, why not strike now when there is only one active case. After all, who knows, the country may open up for tourism by august or September, and cases will likely increase then - possibly throwing the education schedule into chaos.

But, starting in July was not an option - Faber conceded - because teachers need vacation:

Jules Vasquez- Reporter
"In your contemplation or the Ministry's contemplation of the date to return to school, was there factoring in that you can't touch July because, you said it yourself just now, your teachers need time to rest, as a parent I might say, well, you've been resting."

Hon. Patrick Faber- Ministry of Education
"If you look at what has happened or the schedule that has been laid out, we are still not ready for the beginning beginning of August. So it speaks as well...well that is a consideration, I won't lie to you. But it speaks to the Ministry and its players, everybody, being ready to open back the schools. There has to be a period where we properly disinfect, there has to be a period where we properly make the infrastructural changes that we need to make, there has to be a period where we look to see what is the situation on the ground. You yourself said, there is not enough time."

Jules Vasquez
"Well, because you started late, but continue."

Hon. Patrick Faber
"That is not the case. But if we were to say, let us open in July, how much less prepared we will be given the time crunch. So, we believe that even starting on August 10th is going to be a serious crunch. Teachers work very hard and even in the period where they are not in school, in fact we have in excess of 2000 teachers who are engaged in online continuous professional development right now. Contrary to what many people think, they are engaged in constructive work. Maybe not necessarily with the students but they are trying to make sure that they are ready for the new normal when August comes. And I can assure you, Mr. Vasquez, that even in the month of July when they are on vacation, so to speak, that what is going to be at the forefront of their minds is how they are going to ensure that those children are brought back to speed."

Jules Vasquez
"Great, teachers need that break, accepted. However, children have been suffering, it appears to me, inordinately, along socio-economic lines. Because while it is fine and good for those who can access a computer, who have a private space, we know that particularly in Belize City, the size of dwellings is very small, access to computers is very limited, those who have may have to share it with parents and adults so you have to wait in a line of 10 persons. It is not a realistic model in a country where 40% of us live in poverty. Is there a great urgency that trumps everything to get these most affected children back into school because generationaly you are creating a problem down the road that they will be at an even greater disadvantage."

Hon. Patrick Faber
"I beg to differ. I understand and nobody will dispute that in fact the children have not learnt to the standard or using the standards that we normally use for learning that our children would be considered to have lost. That is a fact. We are saying that we have to do some kind of assessment on how effective distance learning or digital based learning is because there can be no replacement for that interaction socially face to face. But we cannot give up. We have to try our best and our number one priority in all of this is to ensure that our children are safe. And that is the reason why we are not quick to push them back in the classroom. There is no other reason. We want to be ready. We want to make sure that once we put the children back in that environment it is not one that is going to endanger their health."

Estell Hotel Alleged Robbers Caught

4 days ago, we told you about the armed robbery, which happened at Estell's Airport Hotel in Ladyville. Well tonight, the two Belize City men who police believe were the assailants are at prison tonight.

They are 24-year-old Kadeem Omar Anderson, a resident of Curl Thompson Street, and 26-year-old Ryan O'Neil, a resident of Ordonez Avenue. They were arraigned today before Magistrate Emmerson Banner. Anderson was read the charges of aggravated burglary and dangerous harm, while O'Neil was read the charge of abetment to commit aggravated burglary Due to the nature of the offenses, no plea was taken from the men, and they were remanded to the Belize Central Prison until August 7th, 2020.

As we reported at around 5:30 p.m. on June 3rd, police responded to a robbery in progress at Estell's Airport Hotel. When they arrived, they found one of the owners, 87-year-old Dudley Estell, suffering from a gunshot injury to the back.

About 15 minutes before the cops arrived, Estell and his wife were upstairs in their house, when a man arrived and asked for a room. Shortly after that, 2 men entered, and one of them was armed with a firearm. They demanded money from the couple. When he responded that he didn't have any at the compound, the armed man took him into a bedroom and shot him in the back.

They then searched the room and stole a few hundred US dollars in cash. All 3 men escaped from the hotel in a Blue Ford Escape SUV. The cops activated quickly, and they were able to track the getaway vehicle in Hattieville. They later detained 4 men, but as we reported tonight, they have only charged 2 of them.

PBL With Paycuts

Tonight, The Port Of Belize has announced austerity measures aimed at decreasing expenses and increasing revenue. It's part and parcel of the company's COVID 19 recovery and continuity plan and includes salary reductions that will range from 20% for executives and senior managers to 15% for middle management.

The Port's self-imposed relief measures include a temporary 6-month reduction of salary set to be implemented for all staff with the exception of stevedores who due to the decrease in vessel activity have already seen a downturn in earnings. The Port says that ,while difficult, the decision allows them to refrain from material staff layoffs and furloughs.

And in a press release this evening Port Receiver Arturo Vasquez said quote: "We found this solution to be the best alternative when we keep equity as the guiding principle and this allows all 150 team members to remain fully employed and retain the ability to take care of their families."

PBL's executive team will re-evaluate these measures every three months promising to revert salaries to their current levels once the economic recovery gets underway.

Tropic Air/BTIA Seeking Support For Opening Airport

And while the Port moves toward recovery by cutting corners Belize's only international airport remains closed. Two weeks ago the Prime Minister rolled back the airport's expected July 1st re-opening until rapid COVID-19 tests can be secured.

But members of the BTIA are pleading with the government to stick to that initial date. On Sunday they issued a poll with an aim to secure a public statement of support from their membership. They're citing potential to lose vital international air service for the long term providing the example of Southwest, a direct to Belize flight already lost for the remainder of the year and making the point that struggling airlines will only reopen routes (that will lose money for the foreseeable future) where they have a committed partner that wants to start rebuilding from now.

The BTIA also made the point that, the state of the world as it it is, a July 1st reopening will not bring a rush of tourists. It will, however, allow hotels time to streamline and perfect the health protocols to protect the public.

Finally, The BTIA announced the near completion of a comprehensive reopening plan which they claim goes far beyond what other Caribbean countries are doing and includes comprehensive testing protocols to facilitate contact tracing to ensure the near-zero risk of a Covid-19 positive person entering the country through PGIA. This comprehensive plan now hinges only on obtaining the needed reagents for the Covid-19 testing equipment already in place.

19 Was Hot On Sunday

One lockdown Poll that would have solicited an 100% positive response would have been the poll to bring back Boledo. And last week when the national game of chance made its comeback the hot number of everyone's lips was 19. And much like that famous number 20 on new year's weekend, 19 was the hot number all week long. And two days after the 19thy case of COVID 19 appeared it played as the single winning number for Sunday's draw. The jackpot number was 6119.

A Brad's representative told us the payout was second only to the "20" that played on New Year's eve.