PM Says BCWJ Exploiting Dispute, Urges End to Standoff

As former BTL workers ramp up pressure on the company’s board, the dispute is drawing attention at the highest level of government. Tonight, Prime Minister John Briceño is rejecting that view, accusing the BCWJ of taking advantage of the situation and reminding the public that BTL has already agreed to pay outstanding severance. He’s now urging the group to move past the six‑percent interest fight and bring the long-running standoff to an end.

 

On the Phone: Prime Minister John Briceño

“Well it is unfortunate, because what we have said from the beginning that BTL should pay these people regardless of what the courts say. They believe there is a strong case that if they go to the courts that the courts would rule in favor of BTL. But we are talking about people, about getting their severance and I believe that they should get it. But I do believe that the BWCJ, I think they are taking advantage of the situation and demanding the six percent interest. I see that BTL has already offered to any of the employees that want to settle. They are prepared to bring the information once we know that you are, once we can have the evidence to show you are there an can meet the qualification, you will be paid your severance and six percent interest going back to the ruling from the CCJ. I do believe, I think that is fair and I wish that the group, the former BTL workers for justice would see through that and settle so that we can finish with that and move forward.”

 

BCWJ Seeks PM’s Intervention as Talks Collapse

 

With negotiations between the BCWJ and BTL stalled over interest payments on severance, the workers’ group says it has reached a breaking point and is now calling on Prime Minister John Briceño to step in. Organizers argue they’ve compromised at the table while BTL has not, and they contend the company’s board, appointed by the government, should be held accountable. So tonight, we asked them about BTL’s claim that they’re refusing to budge, and what they expect the Prime Minister to do in a dispute involving a technically private company. Here’s that exchange.

 

Shane Williams

“They’re saying negotiations mean give and take. They’re saying you are what to take but don’t want to.”

 

Michael Augustus, Organizer, BCWJ

“No, no. We gave them and I would want them to flash what we gave them from the six to where we gave, what we gave. I want them to flash that. Tell that HR lady that sits around there stop shooting bull. Because she knows and we have a copy of what they gave to us. When we first met, we told them, let’s start the 6.5, but we are not going to 6.5 and we will go up to six. We could have gone up to 10 and we say between that to six, between not there and there. That’s what we said. They did not move. They came to us in writing, which we hold ’em to, two percent.”

 

Shane Williams
“You have reached out to the Prime Minister. What are you hoping the Prime minister do?”

 

Emily Turner, Organizer, BCWJ

“That he will intercede? We all know that the BTL board is appointed by him. Even the board members that come from the Social Security, they’re all appointed by him, by his government. And those he needs to speak to them here. What’s the issue? What is it that is what is it that we are asking for? Because let’s be, but let’s be honest, right? BT told us that the amount that they have calculated is around 4.8 million for these people beyond six years. Even if you double it, it’s less than the ten million dollars. It’s a hard pill to swallow. That when they tell you that you are not gonna get that, it’s even harder when they tell you that they want to give you six percent from the judgment of November, 2025.”

 

 

BTL Criticized for Choosing Lawyers Over Workers

 

The stalemate between BTL and the Belize Communication Workers for Justice is raising new questions about the company’s priorities. While BTL insists former employees should take their claims to court if they won’t compromise, Union Senator Glenfield Dennison argues that approach makes little financial sense. He says the company appears more willing to pour money into legal fees than to settle what the workers are owed, a concern echoed by BCWJ members who believe BTL is choosing courtroom battles over compensation. Here’s how organizers responded when we asked about that claim.

 

Shane Williams

“BTL is saying if the people want what they believe they’re entitled for, they have to go to court.”

 

Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator 

“Bwai I think that da fi give some attorney in this country wa big money. Like I embarrassed for BTL to say that because they noh want say how much legal fees they done pay. They noh want say which lawyers the give then ya legal opinion. They no want say how much they had to pay they lawyers de but they noh want pay the Belizean hardworking people of BTL. But they ready to pay a lawyer fi ker we da court. Like, they the blow my mind with this thing. But I will say this, the law is on the people’s side. The constitution is on the people’s side. And I don’t think the board members of BTL understand fully all that is at play here. It’s not my position to advise them. I advise this group but they are making a serious miscalculation and it is either intentional or it is incompetence: intentional in that they wish to give somebody one lot of money. Or they just really noh the understand the issues that da how I strongly feel about it.”

 

Tonight, union leaders say that if BTL is willing to spend big on lawyers, it should be just as willing to settle with the workers who built the company.

 

 

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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