Double Standards Alleged in BTL Severance

Questions of fairness and double standards in severance payouts are once again front and center, this time at Belize Telemedia Limited. After outrage over generous exit packages for senior managers at BEL, attention is now shifting to BTL, where former employees say they’re being denied benefits they rightfully earned. But in a twist that’s raising eyebrows, one of the company’s former CEOs has reportedly stepped forward to claim severance, fueling claims of hypocrisy and unequal treatment. The Belize Communication Workers for Justice says it’s yet another example of a system that favors those at the top, while leaving ordinary workers to fight for what’s theirs. Here’s Emily Turner.

 

Emily Turner, Organizer, Belize Communication Workers for Justice

“Last Saturday when BTL had the open day, we call it the severance open day, that the great or the, not the word great but the former CEO of BTL, walked in for his severance. And that is quite interesting because a lot of my members have been saying that BTL is telling them that they’re not eligible for severance because BTL made a payment to them in 1995 and in 1995, if that payment was done, then the CEO would’ve received the same payment – the current, the CEO at the time. So I find it very interesting that he would have a claim for severance if they are disqualifying my members. But you know, when we go to court, all of these things will be open. They will have to give us the records of our members so that we can review them, and we can ensure that they are being paid properly and correctly.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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