BCJW Protests in Belmopan as PM Briceño Presents Budget

Former employees of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) gathered in Belmopan today pressing government leaders to intervene in the unresolved severance dispute, as Prime Minister John Briceño presented the national budget in the House of Representatives.

The group says BTL has “closed the door” on negotiations and is offering severance payments along with 6% interest only from November 5th, a position the retirees reject.

Organiser Michael Augustus told reporters, “They have our money for over 30 whatever years in some cases, and for some of us 10 or more years.” 

The workers criticised BTL management and the board, insisting that parliament must step in to ensure workers get what is legally due. “BTL is owned by the people of Belize… We are part of those people. We are the people that built this country,” said organiser Emily Turner. “If they think that we will take that laying down or just accept it, that’s not going to happen,” she added. 

During today’s House meeting, members launched a coordinated action. According to Turner, 310 former employees, including retirees and Belizeans living abroad, sent text messages to area representatives sitting in the House. “We expect that these messages will multiply at least three times,” Turner said.

The Belize Communications Workers’ Justice group (BCWJ) said they have already received responses from some elected officials but claimed the matter is being deflected back to the BTL board. “Is it that the BTL board and the chairman of BTL is running things? We thought the government of Belize and the people of Belize own BTL,” Turner stated.

The group is demanding full payment of the 6% interest from the day of cessation, not the 3% currently offered, arguing that prior court rulings support their claim.