PM Briceño Responds to NTUCB Demands as Deadline Expires

Prime Minister John Briceño has broken his silence on the demands made by the National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB). Our newsroom has been informed that the Prime Minister instructed the Cabinet Secretary to write to the NTUCB today, informing the Congress that its letter and demands will be taken to Cabinet on Wednesday. The unions are expected to be advised of Cabinet’s position thereafter.  The response came on the same day that the NTUCB’s deadline expired, and union member protested outside the Social Security office in Belize City this afternoon. The demonstration began at around twelve-fifteen this afternoon, during the employees’ lunch hour, and was led by NTUCB President Ella Waight. Before word of the Government’s response emerged, Waight said the Prime Minister’s silence had not gone unnoticed and that the unions were demanding clear answers.

Ella Waight, President, NTUCB: “We’re calling it a walk of demands, walking in support of the NTUCB’s 11 demands we’ve given government. As you’re aware today is a deadline that we gave the Prime Minister to answer to the 11 demands we made. We have not gotten any response from the Prime Minister. I understand he’s out of the country but as far as we know, there’s a deputy Prime Minister, right? And the work of the government continues. So our demands our letter should have been answered by now. But as you know PSU began early on the week with their walk out,  they did a  walkout and a great walkout at Income Tax. We at CWU represent the workers at the Social Security Board, DFC, etc. etc. So we decided today to support NTUCB with our walking and supporting of our demands for NTUCB.”

Leonora Flowers, President, Christian Workers Unions: “Every great thing begins with a small effort and as workers of Belize we need to show ourselves out there that we should be represented by the government and we should let them know we stand with the NTUCB 100%. So we’ve gathered here today asking our members to come out and start to show solidarity with the all the actions that have been placed on the table. It is disappointing that we have not heard from our prime minister. As Sister Ella said we have lots of ministers in the cabinet. We have a deputy prime minister, we have people who could respond to us. So we are waiting for a response. And today’s deadline, it goes up to midnight tonight, but that won’t stop us from coming out here and asking our members to show of support to the Belizean public as well to let them know that we are serious about these demands.”

The NTUCB’s demands include the removal of BTL’s chairman and certain board members, increased union representation on the company’s board, changes to the leadership of the Public Utilities Commission and a commitment for the Government’s telecommunications business to be directed to BTL.  The demands followed Cabinet’s decision not to support BTL’s proposed acquisition of Speednet Communications, the parent company of SMART. The unions say the controversy exposed broader problems with the management and oversight of key public institutions. Senator for the trade unions and civil society, Glenfield Dennison, also addressed those concerns and the importance of the Government responding to the Congress.

Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator: “There’s so many other underlying issues that we need to keep bringing to the fore. So you would have noticed that we had the SARA issue being raised earlier this week. Now we have CWU raising the issues that are affecting our pension, our futures, right? And I’m not sure if the president told you, but we have a plan of action that includes continuing to build the momentum. And I am of the view that power doesn’t listen if they don’t have a reason to listen, right? So we’re going to keep giving them reasons to listen and then I will say that BNTU is the last hammer that we will drop and by that time I think the unity will pull everybody out. And at that point, it’s not if you want to listen, you have to listen.”

The protest took place during the employees’ lunch break, and there was no immediate indication that services at the SSB office were disrupted. The NTUCB had indicated that similar protests will be held next week in Belmopan, but that remains unclear, given the Prime Minister’s response./