PSU President Warns of Industrial Action if Government Ignores Public Voice

Public Service Union (PSU) President Dean Flowers has issued a strong warning to Prime Minister John Briceño, suggesting that industrial action could follow if the government fails to respect democratic principles and the voice of the people.  Flowers’ comments came as he reflected on a previous exchange with the Prime Minister over appointments to the Public Services Commission. According to Flowers, Briceño told him that if he wanted the authority to appoint people and make such decisions, he should put his name on a ballot.  The PSU President has now turned that argument back on the Prime Minister, reminding him that it was the people who elected the government and that those in office remain accountable to the public. Flowers warned that if democracy does not prevail, public officers may be forced to respond collectively.

Dean Flowers, President, PSU: “My constitution tells me that this democracy is of the people meaning we will take you from amongst us. By the people, we get to decide how we’re governed and for the people so none of us in here need to put our names on a ballot sir. What we need to do is hold you accountable because if you think that you will reduce this democracy to a single day when we go cast our vote and then we’re supposed to keep quiet for the rest, you’re wrong. We are the reason you have a job. We are the reason you have a job. And we are the reason all 31 of you all have a job and a salary in the House. So check yourself when you think you could come and tell us that we need to put ourselves and the ballot.  Because once there is breath in us, once there is breath in me I will hold you accountable. I want to be very serious when I remind the prime minister of this country and the people of Belize what he said when he was in opposition because we were at that moment. He said we need to change. He said this to the Barrow Administration. We as politicians need to change because the people are tired and one of us will get hur. He said that one of us is going to get hurt. I did not come from an era of the dubbed “Father of the nation” So I do not believe in a peaceful, constructive revolution I want to put that out there. I want to put that out there. I am saying to the elected government the people are on the brink and I’m saying to you all, listen. Listen. Because the talking out here is serious and I’m not one to hide, I won’t throw stones and hide my hand. I will confront it because at the end of the day power gives nothing up without a serious demand. And if it means that we have to go down that path then let it be known that we’re going down that path. But you will get to choose. It will be on you all when we decide to go down that path. And I’m being very serious here because as a 49 year old citizen of this country I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough of the abuse.” 

Flowers stopped short of formally announcing industrial action. However, his message was clear to public officers that they should be prepared to mobilize at any time.