BTL Warns Former Union Leader Over Protest Comments

Belize Telemedia Limited is firing back tonight, issuing a formal warning to former union leader Emily Turner over comments she made during a BCWJ press conference earlier this week. The company claims Turner’s remarks could be interpreted as encouraging interference with BTL’s operations, raising concerns about possible disruption to its network and service delivery. In a strongly worded letter, BTL warns that any action affecting its systems could jeopardize essential services, breach legal obligations, and harm its business. The company is now demanding that Turner immediately cease and desist, cautioning that legal action could follow if she doesn’t comply. So, is the Belize Communications Workers for Justice really planning to pull the plug on BTL? We put that question to them today.

 

Michael Augustus, Past President, Belize Communication Workers Union

“There are plugs on my fan. There is a plugs on us meeting as a group. What plugs? They know where the plugs are and other things that were said. We are the ones who set up all these lines and thing. We are saying we know what good stuff we have compared to what we are going to pay, eighty million dollars from Smart. There is nothing about destroying the infrastructure something we built. We are into new houses. We are saying why would we destroy our new house as we put together well healthy house we fought for to make sure it remains ours.”

 

Reporter

“So do you feel threatened by that letter?”

 

Michael Augustus

“Well, we do, but some of us only fear only God and I think the majority of our members only fear God. I came out here and I was riled up. I was grateful the police are here to protect us, because there are some vindictive evil people in there.”

 

Emily Turner, Past President, Belize Communication Workers Union

“I work twenty-four years for BTL. I started when I was only twenty-seven years old. There is no way I want to destroy that. That is sad. That is an overreaction from a very scared executive team of BTL. It is sad that they would put something out like that.”

 

 

 

 

BCWJ leaders insist the comments were never a threat, saying they built BTL, have no intention of harming it, and believe the company’s warning letter is an overreaction driven by fear, not facts.