ORANGE WALK, Wed. May 5, 2021– The Nurses Association of Belize has publicly indicated that it stands in solidarity with the Joint Unions’ efforts to enforce good governance in Belize. While the Government of Belize and the Joint Unions are still negotiating about salary cuts that were included in the recently passed budget as well as the enactment of good governance legislation, the Nurses Association of Belize has embarked on a “go-slow” in its own efforts to push GOB into yielding to the unions’ demands.

While the nurses who belong to the association will not be staging a walk-out from the healthcare institutions where they work, they have pledged to provide full services only for emergency situations. The president of the association, Darrell Spencer, explained, “We are all at work. We are ready to work whenever the situation clears up. The nurses will be there for the entire time… So that’s a go-slow. The only things that are done are emergency procedures. So nurses would be expected to do only that which a patient literally cannot do for themselves. They’re expected to do all the emergency procedures.”

Spencer says the association will not waiver in its position. Their industrial action is intended to last until their demands are met by the government. Spencer says, “[This action] will be expected to last as long as the ministers take to get this thing right. Nurses have agreed that they are willing to go all the way on less short of a complete strike… As soon as the ministers move to get themselves and get the act right and get this country on the right path, we are willing to resume duties as normal.

One issue arising from the nurses’ go-slow initiative is the impact of such industrial action on the vaccination rollout in Belize. Nurses play an integral role in the country’s vaccination efforts, and according to Spencer, it is not an emergency procedure. The vaccination program has also been utilizing nurses outside of their normal working hours, thus placing an excess workload on these healthcare workers. “They have been utilizing nurses that are in their spare time. Nurses, although they don’t go out and preach it, have been volunteering to assist with this program. So [the question of whether this initiative will affect vaccinations] is up to the Minister to decide whether or not he wants to affect his vaccination program, or [does he] want to get the laws right and get the nurses back to the station and let’s do business as usual,” Spencer said.

Despite their current stance, the Nurses Association of Belize assures the citizenry that the fight they are pursuing is not against the public. Spencer said, “This fight is against governance. We are putting up this for the benefit of every Belizean citizen, politicians included… We are tired of only the politicians doing good.” According to the association, this is an essential step and is geared at bringing about, not a change of administration, but rather a change in attitude and governance offered.

Nurses countrywide are expected to participate in the industrial action. Spencer further implored the public to join the fight against corruption. He stated, “When has one of you showed love for your nurses and how have you shown love for your nurses? You know how you can show the nurses? By supporting the movement, pushing, putting pressure on the politicians to get the laws right.”