Photo: Ruth Shoman

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 20, 2023

Less than a week after being elected president of the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) on April 13, Ruth Shoman has been forced to publicly address an incident that occurred in 1998 when she says she was 19. This week, some union members began circulating on Facebook a civil suit judgment from February 2000 regarding theft from Island Marketers Ltd. and Belize Yacht Club Ltd., of which one Ruth Guerra (purportedly a young Ruth Shoman) was an employee. The judgment states that based on an audit, the loss to the companies totalled $71,028.00. While Guerra was in police custody, a representative of the companies had her sign an agreement that she would pay back $110,000. As per the judgment, after considering all the evidence, including that Guerra never denied taking the money, the Judge ordered that she pay $81,028, which included $10,000 in legal fees. Guerra was therefore not processed in court for a criminal charge.

Some union members are now questioning Shoman’s membership based on the section of the Union’s constitution which outlines reasons for “Forfeiture of Membership” under “by-laws and regulations.” The specific section cited is 4 (b) (ii) which states “After due process, the Union by decision of Council may cancel the membership of persons who … are convicted of criminal offence or grave professional misconduct.” The outgoing president of the BNTU, Elena Smith, on Wednesday, April 19, was asked about the allegation that Shoman wants that particular clause removed as part of the ongoing revision of the Union’s constitution. The question was framed in the context of the court judgment from 23 years ago. Smith told the press, “I am not privy to what you are saying in terms of striking out any clause, because no one person can make a change to the constitution. You can recommend an amendment, but that recommendation has to be approved by the membership … We have a committee that was looking at the suggested amendments.” She explained that the suggested amendments will now be sent to the membership for their input, so nothing is yet finalized. Another recommended amendment that is being frowned upon is the need for a president’s fund. In that regard, Smith said they must look at how the union is growing and changing, and determine the purpose for such a fund. However, she said the ultimate decision rests with the membership.

Appearing today on the LOVE FM Morning Show with her daughter by her side, Shoman said that the BNTU is seen as one of the catalysts for change, and the more it becomes involved in how we are governed, the more the leadership position comes into the spotlight. Referring to the incident itself, she said she never spoke about it before, but that on Wednesday night after the story aired on the evening news, her daughter told her it was time to tell her story. Shoman proceeded to explain that “what is out there are partial stories,” and that what happened at the time played out in the context of her being the victim of gender-based violence that even saw her two young children (one two and a half years old and the other under a year at the time) taken away from her and moved abroad without her permission. She reported that the father was facilitated in getting a passport for the children without her consent. She added, “… and so the embezzlement that they are talking about wasn’t me. It wasn’t me. It was a part of what was the story of my story.” As to the details of the incident, Shoman would only say, “When this transpired, when the incident – which I will not get into the details — I was told if you sign this document it will be faster for you to get out of all this mess and then you can go look for your kids. I didn’t know what I signed. All I know is that I wanted to go find my kids.” Shoman affirmed on the show that she was not even charged.

Shoman is set to take over as national president of the BNTU at the beginning of July 2023. As to the possibility of the controversy remaining an issue, Shoman said that if it comes up again, “I keep fighting.”

In related news, Smith was asked if Shoman will have to be paid out of union funds if she is not with a school management. Smith responded that the Union’s Council of Management will have to make a decision about that.