Former BTL Workers Protest Outside National Assembly Over Interest Payments

Members of the Belize Communications Workers for Justice (BCWJ) gathered in Belmopan today to stage a protest outside the National Assembly Building of Belize, as the House of Representatives of Belize convened its latest sitting.  The demonstration forms part of the group’s ongoing push for what they describe as fair interest payments owed to former employees of Belize Telemedia Limited.  According to the group, members gathered near the National Assembly compound where they coordinated a strategy aimed at bringing their concerns directly to elected officials. At exactly eleven o’clock this morning, while parliamentary proceedings were underway, participants sent a simultaneous text message to their respective area representatives outlining their concerns and urging government intervention in the matter.  Speaking with the media during the protest, group leader Emily Turner explained that the coordinated action was designed to demonstrate the group’s determination to continue advocating for what they believe are rightful financial entitlements for former telecommunications workers.

Emily Turner, BCWJ Spokesperson: “We have 310 people in our group. These are people from North, South, East and West, the cayes and people, Belizeans that are living in the diaspora. We all came together and we sent a text message to the area representatives that we are part of their constituency and then some of us sent other ministers that we believe have a big influence or need to take a part in this protest action. And so our second protest action was to send that text message at 11 AM. We will also be sending it out to the public so that they can also join us. A lot of our family members want to join us, which means that we expect that these text messages will multiply at least three times because like families our families have three to  five people, even our grandparents, especially our grandparents, they really want to join in this because it’s the first time they see that you have a mixture of younger people and that are standing up for the rights of people that you would say are voiceless and that’s what we are doing. So yes we expect that all of us will be sending this out to our area reps and like I said we are doing this in every peaceful manner that we can and we are disappointed that we are starting to see a message for example we got a message just now from one of the area reps where he’s trying to ping pong this back into BTL’s court but I’m asking the question who is running things who owns BTL ? BTL is owned by the people of Belize and then we put a government there and all of them then are appointed to the BTL board because of the Government of Belize that we voted for. So they can’t be trying to separate themselves. BTL is not the ultimate decider here. Even some of the ministers, I think Minister Cordell has said it, Julius Espat has said it, that this is a anything related to BTL is the people of Belize have to have a voice in it. We are part of those people. We are the people that built this country. We are the people that go to vote. We are the people that paid taxes. This country has run on our box. I don’t know what is it that they think. They think that we will take that laying down or just accept it. That’s not going to happen.”

Turner says the group wants the government to understand that former employees remain committed to pursuing the issue and are seeking meaningful dialogue on the matter.  The development follows a recent public notice issued by Belize Telemedia Limited inviting former employees to submit claims related to the interest payments. However, members of the BCWJ say the amount being offered does not reflect what they believe is owed to them.  Turner says the group is not satisfied with the current payout structure and continues to advocate for a review of the calculation of the interest payments.  As a result, the group is requesting an audience with John Briceño to discuss their concerns directly and to seek a resolution that they believe more fairly addresses the interests of the former workers.

Emily Turner, BCWJ Spokesperson: “BTL is sending out these informational public notices to employees to go in. But when you go in, you only get the 6% from the CCG rulings. If you guys see it, it’s a bit hard to understand which one is it, what is it. So we’re asking the Prime Minister, we came here because it’s time to escalate this matter to the people that do make the decisions. As we all know, BTL is owned by the Belizean people. The the board members that are there, are appointed by the present Government of Belize. And so we are asking now for a meeting with the Prime Minister so that we can put this item to rest. But I think that he will accept the meeting with us.”

Reporter: What is your message to the former employees who may want to take this deal that BTL is offering?

Emily Turner, BCWJ Spokesperson:  “Well, when BCWJ gets the six percent, they just need to go back for the rest of their money. That is just the truth because the matter never never goes to sleep if you do not meet the entire obligation because it is a statutory right. And that is what the CCJ said you cannot make anybody sign away that right. You can’t be mischievous and do this and do that so the matter never goes away. And I will say it again if one person out of all the 564 say you know what I’m not happy with what BTL give me and they want the 6% we will have to go back they will go back to court and BTL will still have that obligation with every employee that they will need to meet with.”

Members of the organization say they intend to maintain their advocacy efforts until what they describe as a satisfactory outcome is reached./