Editing 2005 Belize unrest (section)

== Between the protests ==
After the conclusion of the Friday protest, the Belize National Teachers' Union, led by President Anthony Fuentes, began a prolonged strike action that left the majority of schools closed going into February. Shortages of water and electricity were also common.

Initial agreements were made as of January 26<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php#a1 |title = Channel5Belize.COM  |accessdate=2007-04-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427102712/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php |archivedate=2007-04-27 }} Channel 5: "Talk turns positive as agreement reached on reforms"</ref> between the government and the Congress; in support of these deals university and college students took to the streets that day, representing the [[University of Belize]] and ATLIB affiliated institutions.<ref>http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php#a2 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427102712/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php#a2 |date=2007-04-27 }} Channel 5: "Students rally in support of unions"</ref> But by Friday January 28, talks had broken down again as the Public Service Union of government workers left their jobs<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php#a1 |title = Channel5Belize.COM  |accessdate=2007-04-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427102712/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php |archivedate=2007-04-27 }} Channel 5: PSU takes hard line, leads nationwide walkout"</ref> and forced a new round of negotiations that dragged on in the early days of February even as teachers began to return to school. Taking advantage of numerous faults in communication between the union representatives, Government negotiators Carla Barnett and [[Assad Shoman]] came up with an agreement on February 11.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php#a1 |title = Channel5Belize.COM  |accessdate=2007-04-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427102712/http://www.channel5belize.com/archive_nc_results.php |archivedate=2007-04-27 }} Channel 5: "Government, Unions finally agree."</ref> The NTUCB received a review of the budget, salary increases for its members, various reform measures tied to national development corporations and a promise of cooperation. The budget's tax increases were suspended to March 1, pending their review. A planned national shutdown and strike was averted.

Almost an aberration in the midst of the storm and fury was the takeover of [[Belize Telecommunications Limited]] by the Government following investor Jeffrey Prosser's failure to pay for his batch of shares bought the previous year. That deal would be more closely examined in the months to come.