Ex-BTL Workers Bring Protest to Chairman Mark Lizarraga’s Doorstep

Tensions ramped up today in the ongoing dispute with the Belize Communication Workers for Justice. Protesters took their message straight to the home turf of BTL’s chairman, moving from the company’s headquarters to his privately owned Southside Meat Shop on Albert Street West. That’s where workers gathered just before noon, calling for change. News Five’s Shane Williams has the story.

 

Shane Williams, Reporting

Their chants echoed through the lunch hour, slowing traffic on Albert Street West. Under the midday sun, mostly retired BTL workers marched and waved placards, aiming their message at the BTL Board. After weeks outside the company’s headquarters, the Belize Communication Workers for Justice is now taking its protest straight to board members. Today, they targeted Chairman Mark Lizarraga. Organizer Emily Turner says the move follows last week’s failed negotiations and what she calls BTL’s attempt to spin the issue during yesterday’s press conference.

 

Emily Turner, Organizer, BCWJ

“If they really cared, they would have paid from November and it would’ve been settled. They would’ve never watched these people and some of these people you can see, they cannot – they should not be out here. It is very sad that they did that. And the other part that really floors me is that they would go to a press conference and try to use their situation to sit in their fancy boardroom and make it about them because it is not about them. And we can tell them that all of them that sit there did not build BTL.”

 

Turner says instead of weakening the movement, the press conference only strengthened it. The group says BTL is now reaching out to former employees one by one, a move they believe is designed to divide them and weaken their push for answers.

 

Shane Williams

“Are you seeing any splintering in the group that they’re reaching out directly?”

 

Emily Turner

“Yes. So again, shame on BTL. They know the list that we have and because nobody picked up the phone and called them and they put out this plea and nobody reached, they’re calling out our members. And our members have one message for them, noh the call me with worm. Call me when you got shrimps.”

 

Former employee Michael Augustus echoed that warning urging workers not to negotiate alone.

 

Michael Augustus, Organizer, BCWJ

“Former employees,  those who are not members of BCWJ and those who are members of BCWJ, don’t swallow their pill. They want to pull you in. But with a group behind you, because they weren’t paying anybody after six years. They weren’t even paying anybody, but after we started kicking up dust, now they all want to come forward and say, oh, we are going to pay. They’re making up stories to look good and we know the devious set of people they are.”

 

At the heart of the dispute is a six percent payment the group says BTL still owes to former workers. BTL argues interest should start from the CCJ’s ruling in November 2025, while the BCWJ insists it should begin when each employee left the company. Now, the group plans to turn up the pressure on individual Board members to break what they call a payment deadlock.

 

Emily Turner

“There is gonna be different places that we, we have on the table to go. So it’s, we will see it’s not just gonna be here, it’s gonna be different places.”

 

Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator

“You will see placards with the names of every board member. Board members are in a gridlock for or against paying these people the six percent. The people feel it is personal. And we will go to every single board member if we have to to lobby them. I can go to say Ivan Tesecum is next. The exact details will be worked out with our permit. But every member must feel that they have to make what is the best interest of the people of Belize.”

 

For these former workers, many of whom dedicated decades to building BTL, today’s picket was about more than money. It was about dignity, recognition and what they believe is a long-overdue settlement. And if board members won’t listen inside the meeting room, the group says they’ll make sure the message reaches them at their gates, at their businesses, and anywhere those decisions are being made.

 

Earl Trapp, Former Worker, BTL

“I worked twenty-three years with BTL. I am in solidarity so I decided to come out and lend them my support. Because at the end of the day, severance is not just a privilege. It is a right.”

 

Dennis Williams, Former Worker, BTL

“I travelled from Punta Gorda to attend the protest. I worked at BTL from 2002 to 2014. I think by them closing off the negotiations I think is kinda unjust. Because it wasn’t the negotiating team that said they would walk away.”

 

Ivan Puerto, Former Worker, BTL

“I was with BTL twenty-one years and I come all the way from Corozal to support. Hundred percent with my brothers and sisters. And in this fight, if they think they will break us, no sir. We are here to stay and fight for what is rightfully ours.”

 

Shane Williams for News Five.

 

 

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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