Unions: ‘Do the Right Thing and We Will Hold Peace’

Union leaders also took to the streets this morning outside of the Belize Telemedia Limited’s St Thomas Street compound in Belize City.

The umbrella union, NTUCB, was joined by the Belize Energy Workers Union (BEWU) and the Christian Workers Union (CWU) to protest against BTL’s proposed acquisition of Speednet/SMART.

While Opposition Leader Tracy Panton earlier said she was aware that today’s BTL bo

ard meeting had been postponed, NTUCB President Ella Waight said she had received no such confirmation. The meeting was expected to consider provisional approval for the deal, according to reports.

“What’s on the agenda? We don’t know. That is why we are out here,” Waight said.

She said the unions were present to prevent any rushed decision. “Just in case they decide to go ahead with any partial signing or any partial agreement, that is why we are out here,” she added.

CWU president Leonora Flowers said their presence today was “for the future of Belize… our children and grandchildren.” She added, “There’s too much at stake here for Belizeans to just sit back and watch it go through.”

Tensions rose as protesters entered the BTL compound shortly after 10 a.m., as they had publicly committed to do.

Meanwhile, when asked what could happen if a signing proceeds today, Waight responded, “Do you see the amount of people out here? I would not want to see any kind of riots or anything like that going on. I’m not saying that would happen, but let’s avoid anything like that happening.”

She added that today’s union turnout only reflected the mobilisation of membership notified less than 24 hours ago. “So it’s just the beginning,” she said.

Adding to the wave of yellow on the ground was the Public Service Union. “The PSU has not, as an individual union, taken a position on this. We are an affiliate of the NTUCB, so we stand behind them on their position on this matter,” PSU president Dean Flowers stated.

Flowers criticised the Briceño Administration over its handling of public assets, accusing the government of “not being the first one” and continuing the pattern of “transferring public assets into private hands.” “While the union will never be a proponent of violence, there will come a time when we will propose violence,” Flowers said. “I am saying this: I am restraining myself from becoming militant like those that came before me because my crowd nuh ready for that yet. I nuh ready for that yet.”

Flowers then issued a direct warning to the political leadership: “I want to remind John Briceño, while he was in opposition, he said we need to change because one of us will get hurt. I want to remind you of that sir, one ah unu wah get hurt if unu continue to exploit Belizeans and this country in the manner you are doing. Take heed.”

According to NTUCB President Ella Waight this afternoon, the president of the Belize Communications Workers Union requested that a meeting taking place inside BTL’s boardroom be brought to an end. That meeting, according to BTL’s condemnation statement, was for “meeting to discuss human resources-related issues, including the severance decision of the CCJ of November 5, 2025, which will have a positive impact on our former and present employees.”