Union leaders say removing Markhelm Lizarraga is only the beginning. Belize Communication Workers Union General Secretary Harrison August is also demanding the immediate resignation of three BTL directors: Moises Cal, Arturo Lizarraga, and Eric Eusey. Here is what he told the press.
Harrison August
Harrison August, General Secretary, BCWU
“Moises Cal Director, again we know him to be a diplomat, politician, but one needs to do a basic Google search of his name and one thing will pop of people, Panama. For someone sitting in the seat that he holds as a board member of BTL to hold such an important seat and have these clouds over him. That is not showing the type of people we want in leadership on the board of BTL. Vote of no confidence. Mr. Arturo Lizarraga, he nuh sit pan one, but two SSB, BTL. We know that he is affiliated or is the president of the Belize Business Bureau. He has been the president of the Belize Business Bureau for some two decades. How is he elected? It is very interesting to see that Mr. Eric Eusey, director for small shareholder representative, voted in favor of the acquisition without a phone call of any of the small shareholders.”
The United Democratic Party issued a statement joining the unions’ call for the immediate removal of Chairman Lizarraga. In its release, the UDP noted that it was the first to demand his removal following the board’s approval.
Dennison’s No Confidence Vote Rooted in Earlier BTL Deal
Union Senator Glenfield Dennison says his vote of no confidence did not start with the proposed BTL/Smart acquisition. He says his concerns go back to an earlier plan for BTL to purchase two cable companies, a proposal he questioned from the beginning. Dennison says he opposed that deal then, and he feels the same way about the BTL/Smart acquisition now.
Glenfield Dennison
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
“My no confidence vote is not simply because of the Smart/BTL acquisition. I don’t want it to be lost on any Belizean that eth board composition that voted to acquire Smart, was intended to acquire two cable companies valued at ninety million dollars. So when I say I don’t have any confidence in that board at BTL and the leadership of Mark Lizarraga. It is hinged very closely to his decision to even consider acquiring a cable company from his brother and the brother of the prime minister. Ninety million dollars. So if unu think the Smart Deal mih bad, think again. The cable deal was worse.”
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