Photo: Ruth Shoman, BNTU President
by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. July 6, 2023
There continues to be an internal rift within the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) due to the objection of some members of the union to the recent appointment of its newly elected president, Ruth Guerra Shoman, who had been accused of embezzling funds from her employer decades ago when she was in her early twenties.
Following elections held by the BNTU, during which Shoman became the union’s president-elect in April of this year, and especially after Shoman’s ascendancy to the presidency in July, there have been disputes over her fitness to hold the post due to the reports that emerged that she had been accused of embezzlement.
Shoman, who officially assumed office on July 1, 2023, had been accused many years ago of stealing $110,000 from her employer at the time, Island Marketers Ltd. and Belize Yacht Club.
However, Shoman’s supporters within the BNTU argue that this incident occurred long before she embarked on her teaching career.
Questions about Shoman’s professional competence and teaching experience have also emerged. Despite these allegations, Shoman, who claims to have been employed by an educational institution in the United States, remains unfazed by the controversy surrounding her appointment.
A group of disgruntled BNTU members, however, have taken legal action, filing a court petition seeking an injunction against Shoman’s presidency.
This group has also issued a press release voicing their concerns about Shoman’s leadership and her past actions, and expressing their disappointment with the BNTU’s Council of Management.
The press release stated, “It is clear that the actions and history of Ruth Shoman raise legitimate concerns about her eligibility to hold the position of president within the BNTU. As concerned members, we have tried to address and resolve these issues via BNTU’s Council of Management, but to no avail. This has led us to have no confidence in the objectivity and impartiality of the Council of Management.”
Shoman recently took to Facebook Live to address the issue publicly. During her live broadcast, Shoman stated, “Teachers and members, I have been placed in this position not to bring anything other than unity, what you deserve. For years I have been serving the BNTU. I started as a staff rep for my school over 15 years ago, and I have served in various capacities. One thing I must be consistent about, and have been throughout my service to BNTU, is that I have always put the best interest of our members before anything else. With that said, I’ll say that as it pertains to all the incidents that have been going back and forth, what I will say is that whatever is out there is something that transpired when I was a teenager, quarter of a century ago and long before I became a teacher.”
Following Shoman’s Facebook Live remarks, the group of BNTU members who oppose her presidency, issued a second press release. In it, they criticized Shoman for allegedly misrepresenting her past legal offense and failing to provide evidence of her current employment status, which they argue is critical to her acceptability as BNTU president.
They further pointed out that Shoman was not a teenager, but a 24-year-old mother of two when the alleged embezzlement occurred.
Furthermore, they questioned the decision of the Council of Management to overlook the constitutional requirement for Shoman to provide proof of her active employment status.
They wrote, “Why is Mrs. Shoman adamant in her refusal to submit her employment letter? Why is the Council of Management supporting her in contravening the Constitution of the BNTU? Is Mrs. Ruth Shoman ‘in active service’ to be a legitimate member of BNTU and thus a properly seated President? These are the questions we insist must be answered.”
They added, “The strength of our Union was built on the strength of the integrity of our leaders. We must continue to ensure that ALL of our leaders are accountable to us the Members…BAR NONE!”
Despite the ongoing dispute within the BNTU, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology (MoECST) has extended its congratulations to Shoman.
On July 5, the Ministry released an official statement acknowledging the change in BNTU’s leadership.
After expressing “thanks and appreciation to the outgoing president of the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU), Senator Elena Smith, for her dedicated service and commitment to our education community and country during her term of office,” the MoECST release went on to “welcome the new president of the BNTU, Mrs. Ruth Shoman, who took office on July 1, 2023” and to remark that the ministry looks “forward to a constructive, respectful, and productive working partnership with President Shoman, the Executive Committee, and the Council of Management.”