NTUCB Submits List of Demands to Prime Minister Briceño

In other news, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) has submitted a written list of demands to Prime Minister John Briceño. The demands were initially announced last week during a press conference held instead of a demonstration that had been planned over BTL’s proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications.  NTUCB President Ella Waight says the demands were drafted following an August 17 meeting involving the unions and social partners representing the churches and the Belize Network of NGOs.  For a recap of those demands, we bring back the clip from last week’s press conference.  

Ella Waight, President, NTUCB: “We are demanding a formal accountability structure with the Prime Minister, direct meetings every six months, minimum and written reviews with named responsible officers of government officials every three months to monitor commitments made. And why we say this is because we have had two meetings so far, at least under my presidency with the Prime Minister. We’ve been promised documents, promised drafts, promised information, deadlines were given and nothing has been passed on to the union for us to review and to meet back. There is no contact person that we have in the Prime Minister’s office where we can go to ensure we get these documents. So this is the first demand that we are asking for. If there are any outstanding internal, BTL board processes, and brother will explain that further, or resolutions, approvals or corporate requirements necessary to conclude the closure of the rejection of the acquisition process, these should be done urgently and transparently. The public should be informed when these processes have been completed, not held behind closed doors.”

The formal submission calls for the immediate removal of BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga and board members Moises Cal, Arturo Lizarraga and Eric Eusey. It also calls for a tripartite governance structure at BTL involving the Government, business community and unions, along with the restructuring of the Public Utilities Commission to include broader social-partner representation.  Other demands include the appointment of a liaison between the Prime Minister’s Office and the NTUCB; the passage of whistleblower-protection and campaign-finance legislation; enforcement of the Civil Asset Recovery and Unexplained Wealth Act; and the appointment of an Ombudsman. The submission includes separate demands from the Belize National Teachers’ Union and the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union. These address teachers’ vacation periods, salaries and allowances, as well as increased and more predictable government funding for the University of Belize.  The NTUCB has requested an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister and a written response to each demand by Friday, August 28. While the individual demands carry deadlines ranging from immediate action to ninety days, the Congress is calling for them to be pursued simultaneously.