1 week ago
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Prime Minister John Briceño has weighed in on Belize Telemedia Limited’s latest announcement regarding interest payments to former employees, saying the company’s decision was guided by extensive legal review. BTL recently confirmed that it will pay interest at six percent to qualifying former employees as part of its ongoing severance settlement process, a move that has drawn mixed reactions from stakeholders, including the Belize Communications Workers Union. Speaking to reporters following his return from the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, Prime Minister John Briceño said the government understands the sensitivities surrounding the issue but noted that BTL did not arrive at its position lightly. According to the Prime Minister, the telecommunications company sought multiple legal opinions before determining the interest framework now being applied.
John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “BTL has gotten I think three different lawyers have given them, they’ve done their research and felt their recommendation is that they’re not legally bound to provide the severance pay after a certain amount of years. I believe even though BTL felt that with the payment that they gave them at the end when they stopped working , it was inferred that was part of their severance but it was never spelled out. I believe that we need to respect the rights of all of our workers and we felt, and our advice certainly to our board members was that BTL should pay the severance. Why go to court ? Might as well settle with them. And they agreed to make that recommendation. It’s millions of dollars it’s a lot of money and they’re offering at 3%. Now the other group now is insisting on 6%. BTL is saying that they are prepared to give 6% since the judgment but going back we’re only prepared to pay 3% I think is reasonable. And I urge all the BTL employees to sign up and to get their payments and so we can close this chapter.”
The Prime Minister’s comments come days after BTL’s internal legal counsel, Kilaru Awich, told the media that the company’s approach to severance has evolved significantly in recent months. Awich explained that while BTL initially focused on employees within the six-year limitation period, the company has since agreed to extend severance payments beyond that window, a shift he said required a different consideration of interest. He also noted that interest is typically awarded through court proceedings and is not automatically guaranteed outside of litigation.
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