The NTUCB says its demand to remove Markhelm Lizarraga as chairman of BTL’s Board is not an empty threat. Its deadline to the Briceño administration expires today, even as the Prime Minister maintains that Lizarraga and the board did nothing wrong when they supported BTL’s failed acquisition deal. But NTUCB President Ella Waight says the pressure is coming from the very employees who keep the telecommunications company running. And she warns that if government continues to ignore them, BTL could face serious disruptions.
Ella Waight
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB
“It is a call not just from NTUCB, but from the workers at BTL. The ones who have the capacity to ensure BTL runs smoothly or have issues. So, I think he should have grave concern when they specifically ask to remove the chair, not just from us as citizens, but from workers at BTL who has the capacity to ensure that we get good internet or bad internet or no internet at all. So I hope he takes our demand seriously. Regarding the other demands from NTUCB, some of them are so easy. they can be done overnight. Example, having a contact person at the PM office that we can reach out to. Right now when we send an email we send it to every Tom, Dick, Harry, Jane and Jill. We have to, because we don’t get answers. But respectfully, we can sit down and talk. But at least answer or letter mien. Say you know what I got your letter, I am out of the country. I will be back on such a date. We would not be out here burning up in the sun right. If it gets to a point where we do not sit down with the prime minister and his team we will have to do a national demonstration and again as our members in the general council group keep saying, it may be a repeat of 2005.”
Cabinet Secretary Stuart Leslie reached out to NTUCB following today’s protest to inform them that their list of demands will be discussed in Cabinet on Wednesday.
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