Tensions between the government and public sector unions continue to simmer, as salary negotiations hit another roadblock. With all unions now rejecting the latest proposal, the Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher is calling for calm and conversation. While teachers took to the streets in Dangriga to voice their frustration, Usher says the best way forward is through respectful dialogue, not confrontation.
Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service
“Each increment represents, more or less, two and a half to three percent of asalary adjustment when it comes to any particular public officer or teacher. So ifyou want to look at the numbers, those are the numbers.”
Paul Lopez
“What are your thoughts on how things have progressed since then? I know around that time you, have all received word that the unions, now all of them, rejected the proposal that you supported?”
Henry Charles Usher
“The truth is that I am somebody who will always prefer being around the table discussing these issues in a respectful and productive manner. I always say that it’s important to speak to each other rather than at each other and right now, we received a response to the proposal that the government has made. The Cabinet met yesterday to discuss that response and a reply will be sent to them.”
Paul Lopez
“This morning, you had the teachers speaking at the government with a road blockage in Dangriga. They feel justified by their actions.”
Henry Charles Usher
“You’re saying that as a matter of fact or have you discussed that with the teachers?”
Paul Lopez
“Clearly, they wouldn’t do something that they don’t feel justifiable doing.”
Henry Charles Usher
“I believe that they are taking every opportunity they can to express themselves which is fine. I don’t have a problem with that. But as I say, it’s always better to discuss it in a productive and respectful way.”
After several rounds of negotiations, the BNTU has taken to the streets in protest, this time, organizing traffic blockades across the country. The demonstrations, aimed at pressuring the government for an eight-and-a-half percent salary increase, were quickly met with police intervention, for obstruction of traffic. Former Minister of Education and government negotiator Francis Fonseca expressed disappointment in the union’s actions. He says the government has already agreed to six out of seven proposals and is willing to meet the salary increase, but not all at once. Fonseca warns that continued protests after what he calls “good faith negotiations” could damage the union’s credibility with future administrations.
Francis Fonseca, Former Minister of Education
“I’m really disappointed that in my view the BNTU has really, I think, broken faith with those good faith discussions that we’ve been having broken, I think the trust of those discussions and negotiations. And I think, when they do that, they risk losing the support of reasonable people, the public. As well as I think losing credibility with this government and with future governments. We have always treated them with dignity, with respect. We have always, I can tell you, as the Minister of Education for the last four and a half years, we have always worked with the BNTU to resolve any concerns they have, any issues that they raise. We have worked with them to try to address those concerns and issues in our respectful, meaningful way. So I think the risk there is that they will lose credibility. The governments will ask this government and future governments. What is the purpose of working in good faith? What is the purpose of treating you with respect and working with you and trying to resolve issues? If at the end of the day you still, your position is, we will strike, we will protest, we will disrupt. So I really hope that good faith will prevail and that we can resolve these issues where they should be resolved, around the negotiating table. We have an agreed upon established structure and mechanism in place to resolve these issues, and we can do so if we are acting in good faith together.”
As teachers wait for the government’s next move, another union is stepping up its demands. The executive of the KHMHA Workers Union is heading to the mediation table this Thursday, pushing hard for a long-overdue pension plan. Their focus? Securing benefits for employees who served between 2000 and 2017. Union President Andrew Baird says they’re done waiting and this time, they want more than promises. They’re calling on the Briceño administration to officially recognize them as public officers and make them pensionable. News Five will be following the talks closely.
Andrew Baird, President, KHMA Workers Union
“WE have seen recently where the government has added the coast guard to the government pension. They are deserving. I am not going to take that away from the coast guard. Even the teachers, all teachers are now pensionable by the government. There was the grant aided schools where those teachers are now pensionable, because the school was to pay a certain percentage, now the government has took that on as a full package. But now, they are telling us that because they are near starting a contributory pension for public officers they cannot add anybody to the cookie jar, but they are doing that. That is an insult to us. We are suppose to be equal, as the teachers or the other public officers. As the national referral center we even do more.”
As the KHMHA Workers Union prepares to sit down with the government over its pension proposal, we caught up with the Minister of Public Service to get his take. While the union is demanding a clear plan and full pension coverage for long-serving employees, Minister Henry Charles Usher says the path forward isn’t as simple as it seems. Still, he believes there’s a way to resolve the issue. News Five has more from Belmopan.
Henry Charles-Usher
Henry Charles-Usher, Minister of Public Service
“Whenever an entity becomes a statutory body there is always a process for the employees to determine whether they remain in the government service or become employees of that statutory institution. When the KHMH became a statutory authority, the employees were given the opportunity to remain a government employee or to be employed by KHMH. There are some employed by KHMH and some still employed by the government even though they work as at a statutory authority. So it is not straightforward to make everybody public officers or make everybody employees of KHMH. We have to look at each case on a case-by-case basis and move forward. But there is a way to resolve this matter. Certainly, we have to be able to sit in a responsive and respectful way to come up with a solution.”
Gunfire erupted near Victoria Street in Belize City sometime around 10:30 on Tuesday night, prompting a swift response from police stationed just blocks away. According to authorities, a routine checkpoint turned into a dangerous exchange of gunfire when an officer confronted a suspicious individual who opened fire. The officer returned shots, and now one person, identified as Clive Hendricks, is in custody and a firearm has been recovered. As the investigation continues, police say it’s still early days.
Stacy Smith
ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer
“An officer who was posted at the checkpoint located on New Road in Belize City reported that whilst on duty, he heard shots coming from the direction of Victoria Street to which he responded. Upon responding, he observed an individual who he saw in a suspicious manner and instructed him to stop and that person responded by firing shots at the officer who, in turn, returned shots in the direction of the individual. The investigation has, thus far, led to the recovery of a firearm and the detention of an individual. The investigation which is still in its infant stage continues.”
Two men already behind bars under a State of Emergency have now been formally charged in a shocking case of attempted murder. Eric Frazer and Jahreem Staine were arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court for allegedly opening fire on Jimmy Rojas, a man once accused of murder, himself, but later cleared due to lack of evidence. The shooting happened on May third at the corner of Tibruce Street and Croton Lane, where Rojas was working when a gunman exited a tinted Mercedes and opened fire. Rojas survived the attack and is recovering from his injuries. The suspects, now facing multiple charges, including attempted murder and use of deadly means of harm, have been denied bail and remain at the Belize Central Prison until their next court date in September.
The Ministry of Home Affairs insists that its new firearms licensing system is a step toward transparency and accountability, but applicants and gun dealers are telling a very different story. Tonight, we will continue our coverage of challenges at the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board. From long delays to confusing requirements, frustration is mounting, especially among those who say their safety is on the line. News Five’s Paul Lopez has more in the following report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The Ministry of Home Affairs says it’s trying to make the gun license process more transparent, but not everyone’s convinced it’s working. Gun dealers and applicants are pushing back, saying the new system is causing more frustration than clarity. One police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, told News Five he applied for a firearm license six months ago. His reason? He wants to protect himself and his family. But after all that time, he’s still waiting. The Firearm and Ammunition Control Board hasn’t approved his application, and he’s not alone.
On the Phone: Police Officer, Gun License Applicant
“Trying to get a gun license is very hard. I try from last year December and keep and trying. When I call the Home Affairs office the lady always tells me that they have limited amount of personnel doing the vetting. When I call again they say the board has not met. It is very frustrating.”
Last week, Abner Murillo, a gun dealer and owner of Lock N’ Loaded, asserted that the application process now requires two valid identification cards. A release from the board refuted that claim. But the officer we spoke with said otherwise.
On the phone: Police Officer
“It was very challenging, because I had to go way to Belmopan, took a day off, sign a book and then they told me I need another id. So I had to go and photocopy another ID at the print shop, came back, gave them the ID and that is how they took my application. I took in my drivers license and my social security.”
Paul Lopez
“Because they ask you for two ids?”
On the Phone: Police Officer
“Yes, two ids.”
Applicants are calling the new gun license ID process frustrating, especially for those traveling long distances to Belmopan, only to be turned away for not having multiple forms of ID. One police officer, still waiting six months for approval, says his job makes it critical to legally carry a firearm to protect his family. Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Kareem Musa praised the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board during the budget debate, calling it a step toward greater accountability in the licensing process.
Kareem Musa
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
“WE are ensuring that those who carry firearm, do so under lawful, well monitored and careful conditions. Mr. Speaker the work for the FACB is essential to national security. But just as important it is essential to national confidence. Through its establishment we are establishing order to an area long plagued byopacity and setting a bold new standard for arms control in the Caribbean.”
The new firearm licensing process may still be experiencing some growing pains. Despite repeated attempts, calls and messages to CEO Sharole Carr, who is also the chair of the board, have gone unanswered. However, the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board has issued two statements this week—one responding to claims by gun dealer Abner Murillo, and another notifying dealers that physical inventory checks will begin in June.
Abner Murillo
Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded
“This is something that is a practice with the dealers. I accept it. I think it is necessary. You do have to do spot checks. You do have to do inventory checks. The Dangerous Good Unit did it previously. It is an excellent thing they are doing it. It is nothing new. However, the timing of it does seem, appear to be a little bit retaliatory, as other people have said. I cannot say for a fact that it is or not, but the timing. It is like, you want to speak up, hold yah. We wah come check unu and pressure unu a little bit. It might seem that way, but I don’t know for a fact.”
Murillo’s criticism of the process has been a mixed bag of support and disapproval. Some are of the view that the process has made it harder for responsible individuals to retain a license and that law abiding citizens should bear arms, while others say all guns need to be banned.
Abner Murillo
“You have to have a recommendation letter from a Justice of the Peace. The problem is there is a handful of Justice of the Peace in the country. People are getting turned around and turned around to get a JP letter because they are not comfortable giving recommendation letters for a firearm because of the nature of it. They are saying, I don’t want to give a recommendation letter and it comes back to me. Before you didn’t need a recommendation, you needed the firearm certificate, the training and a clean police record and the vetting.”
Once again, our requests for comment from the board chair went unanswered. Meanwhile, questions are growing about whether the board has the capacity, and the authority, to effectively manage its role as the country’s gun license watchdog. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
Earlier this week, the Firearm and Ammunition Control Board announced in a press release that Abner Murillo has taken legal action against them. While Murillo isn’t sharing the details of his claim just yet, he says he wants the matter to play out fully in court. He also expressed concern over the board’s decision to go public with the lawsuit, suggesting it may have been premature.
Abner Murillo, Owner, Lock N’ Loaded
“I wish they would not have commented on the court matter. That is not something I want to bring the to the public and I hope you guys do share. There is a lot of things there that will make them look bad and I am not trying to make them look bad. Aright, if you don’t want to listen to me, you are a public servant. Go listen to the public. Go online and read the comments, listen to the vast majority. The vast majority are in agreement. I would say over ninety percent. Most comments would say ban all guns, take away the guns. We have a very high crime rate. The moment we don’t have crime, I myself will give up my guns, excepting my hunting, because I like to hunt and I like my game meat. But, if there was not a high crime rate there would be no need for special protection firearms. The moment we have no crime I could close down my shop. But it is not about that. It is not about me. It is about the process that has become so frustrating.”
Long-time U.D.P. figure and now retired politician Michael Finnegan is throwing his support behind Tracy Panton in her bid for party leader. But some are asking, should he share some of the blame for where the party stands today? After all, it was Finnegan who handed over the reins in Mesopotamia to Moses “Shyne” Barrow… and, well, the rest is history. So, does Tracy Panton think Finnegan bears any responsibility? We put that question to her, here’s what she had to say.
Tracy Taegar-Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I think pointing fingers will not help to solve the problem. What has been done in the past cannot be undone. I think we have to find a way forward. I appreciate that at this point in time, the honorable Michael Finnegan has stepped forward. Would I have wanted him to step forward sooner, of course. I think we would have avoided some of the hemorrhaging that has happened. But he has stepped forward and I hope there will be more senior members of this party, for the interest of protecting this institution, that we refer to as the UDP and it is an institution of the people, that they will also have their voices heard.”
The United Democratic Party is planning a unity meeting on June fourteenth, but there’s already controversy brewing. Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar-Panton says she wasn’t invited, and she’s not the only one. According to her, several other parliamentarians were also left out. “If this is supposed to be about unity, then why are key voices being shut out?” she asked. With the party struggling to rebuild and bring people together, this move raises serious questions about its direction. We spoke with Panton to find out what this could mean for the future of the UDP.
Tracy Taegar Panton, Leader of the Opposition
“I do understand that a meeting has been scheduled for the fourteenth of June. It is being promoted as a meeting that seeks to reset and unify the party. It is anything but that. There are at least fifteen caretakers, elected representatives of this party along with their executive committees who have been excluded, have not been invited to attend this meeting and if we are going to reset and unite the political organization then we need all hands od deck, to hear from all persons. Some of what has been said or what has to be heard, may not be easy. But that is the place to trash it out. It is not in the public domain. It should not be in the public domain. It should be in spaces where we can work together to find the solution that ultimately serve the people. We are exploring the legal remedies that may be available to us on the matter of the NPC but it is unfortunate that we would have to go that route to have an internal discussion.”
