NTUCB Demands BTL Chariman’s Removal by August 28
The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) has formally submitted eleven demands to Prime Minister John Briceño. The NTUCB has given the Briceño government until August 28th to respond in writing.
The most immediate demand calls for the removal of BTL Chairman Markhelm Lizarraga and board members Moises Cal, Arturo Lizarraga, and Eric Eusey. The NTUCB cites the BCWU’s vote of no confidence; board approval of a $90 million cable purchase tied to the chairman and the prime minister’s office; and advocacy for the now-rejected $80 million Speednet/SMART acquisition based on a one-year financial review, short of the standard three-to-five-year review period.
Within 90 days, the NTUCB wants a tripartite governance structure at BTL including BCCI and NTUCB representation and a restructuring of the Public Utilities Commission to include representatives from NTUCB, BCCI, BNN, NEAB, and government.
The union is demanding a dedicated liaison appointed within the Office of the Prime Minister immediately, along with whistleblower protection and campaign finance reform legislation within 90 days.
The NTUCB wants enforcement of the Civil Asset Recovery and Unexplained Wealth Act, 2023, allowing the Financial Intelligence Unit to pursue civil recovery of unlawfully obtained assets without requiring a criminal conviction.
The union also wants the vacant Ombudsman post filled within 90 days and is backing the PSU’s call to withdraw the Revenue Authority Bill, 2026, and return it to committee for proper consultation.
Teacher-specific demands include a standardised July and three-week August vacation period within 90 days, salary scale changes for Vo-Tech teachers within 45 days, repayment of interdicted teachers’ salaries within 60 days, and a response within 45 days on repaying teachers required to return salaries over expired licences.
A separate demand calls for the government to increase the University of Belize subvention toward a $15 million target in time for the next fiscal budget, along with an independent oversight body to remove political discretion from scholarship allocation.
The Prime Minister is currently in Honduras on an official visit.