ACLED Regional Overview – Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean (17 - 23 April 2021)
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Last week in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, there continued to be a high level of demonstrations. In Nicaragua, police attacked and arrested members of the opposition amid protests to commemorate the third anniversary of the 2018 anti-government uprising. In Honduras, taxi and bus drivers protested, demanding subsidies and lower gasoline prices to cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In Belize, teachers and public servants protested against a 10% cut in public workers’ salaries. Finally, in Mexico, clashes between criminal groups and state forces intensified in the states of Sonora and Michoacan.
G.O.B. says the unions are being unreasonable in requesting that they pass these legislations in a short period of time. And on Friday, inside the House, PM Briceño called on the unions to call of their strike action.
Senator Elena Smith
“The B.N.T.U. right now is calling on the Prime Minister to remove his pen off the table. We are also calling on the Prime Minster to remove that six months, that eight months that they are saying it will take to implement these good governance issues. If you want to call off, let’s call off. We want me to move back, then you move back as well and do what you got to do.”
Apr 22, 2021
Francis Fonseca
While the unions were at the foot of the National Assembly building protesting, inside the House a couple members were calling for the voice of reason to prevail. Member for Freetown Francis Fonseca noted that discussions between the unions and G.O.B. have been all encompassing, and that every piece of information requested by the unions has been provided. Honorable Fonseca stated that the Briceño administration is seeking unity and not confrontation with the unions. Member for Belize Rural Central Dolores Balderamos Garcia expressed that we are all in this boat together, and that now is not the time for grand standing. Garcia called on the President of the Belize National Teachers Union, Elena Smith, to show real leadership.
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