NTUCB Says Transparency, Not Surnames, Is the Real Issue

The NTUCB is not ready to call for action just yet. As the Mira Millions controversy grows, union leaders say they first want the investigations to lay out the facts. NTUCB President Ella Waight says there are real concerns about government contracts landing in the hands of connected families. But she also says Belize is small, and family ties alone should not automatically shut anyone out of doing business with the government. For the unions, the bigger question is not simply who is related to whom. It is whether the contracts were awarded fairly, openly, and with proper checks in place.

 

Ella Waight, President, National Trade Union Congress of Belize

“What it seems to be is a lot of nepotism, yes. Contracts, many contracts given away to one family, when we are sure that there are other persons in this country who have the ability to provide the service or the products just as much. Was that opportunity given to them fairly? Did they know of such an opportunity. Was it advertised effectively? So all these things I’m sure will come out via the audit or the investigation. It will come out, and then it is then that I think NTUCB will definitely have to say, ‘You know what? This action needs to happen now.’ Whatever that may be, because of the result of the investigation, will happen then. We are keeping a close eye. But I’d like to add one more thing, though. I think this is very important. As a realist, Belize is a very small country. We are, many of us are related to each other, whether it’s cousins or second cousins, whatever it may be. And I don’t want it to come across that NTUCB is against any family member getting a contract in any aspect of government. That is not the case. It just should not be limited to one family or one group of persons. I think that is what we need to understand, because we have to be real. Who would want to run for a political office if they know that my entire family would be blocked out from any contracts? We have to wait for the investigation. But we cannot continue to waste any money in this country when cost of living is so high.”

 

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