Former BEL Workers Protest Outside AGM Demanding Severance Payments

A group of former employees of the Belize Electricity Limited gathered outside the company’s headquarters along the Philip Goldson Highway today, continuing their campaign to secure severance payments they say remain outstanding. The demonstration coincided with BEL’s Annual General Meeting, which was being held inside the facility. Members of the media were unable to gain access to the meeting.  The protestors, operating under the banner of Belize Energy Workers for Justice, carried placards and voiced their concerns from the sidewalk near the company’s main entrance, calling on BEL to honor what they describe as long-overdue obligations to former workers. The group’s claim is rooted in a Caribbean Court of Justice ruling involving former Belize Telemedia Limited employees. The former BEL workers contend that the principles established in that judgment should also apply to their circumstances and are seeking similar compensation.  One protestor, Dorla Staine, told Love News that she has personally discussed the matter with BEL Executive Chair, Lynn Young. According to the protestor, Young indicated that the CCJ ruling specifically related to former BTL employees and did not automatically extend to former BEL workers.

Dorla Staine, Former BEL Employee: “We want to tell Lynn Young whose picture is here do the right thing and by extension we are talking to the Prime Minister who has the option to do this. As we understand at this AGM and it has been in the House of Representatives that the government is seeking I think $73 million for some bailout. Well I pray God that our money is in that bailout. Just now the CEO came to me and said Dorla why are you doing this to me ? I returned the question. I said I wouldn’t be here if you would pay us our money. You didn’t have to go to the court when you were getting your money because he’s saying that that ruling is for BTL and not for BEL. That is a shame. Who is advising them ? They need to go too and if the government is encouraging this they need to go too. We are sick and tired as we are always saying we are older people, we have done our share. Just pay us our money.”

Reporter: Did he respond when you turned the question back to him ? 

Dorla Staine, Former BEL Employee: “He said that the ruling applies to BTL.”

The group has maintained that despite the passage of time, they have not abandoned their claim and are prepared to continue organizing public demonstrations and engaging relevant stakeholders as they seek a resolution to the longstanding dispute.