Labor unions do not typically rush into political protest, and for good reason. NTUCB President Ella Waight says the movement must protect its independence and ensure that its message is not swallowed up by partisan politics. But she says the current governance concerns are bigger than red or blue. Waight argues that every Belizean has a stake in what is unfolding, whether they support a political party or not. It is a view shared by UDP Leader Tracy Panton, who also says the public discontent now runs deeper than party affiliation.
Tracy Panton
Tracy Panton, Leader, Untied Democratic Party
“We are a political entity. We have a political prerogative and we make no apologies for that. But these issues are national issues. It affects obviously the political directorate. It affects the unions, civil society, and our communities at large. We can’t doing the same thing over and over and expect different results. We are trying to find ways in which we can work together to support initiatives if we can that will help to hold the government to account.”
Ella Waight
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB
“The NTUCB from ever since has always met within anybody that wants to meet with them as long as it has to do with issues that affect workers or Belizeans or national issues. This is the third time we have been meeting with opposition on various issues. We have agreed today to continue this engagement with having quarterly meeting, as we do with the minister of labor and the prime minister, but that is now twice a year. The LOO requested this meeting two weeks ago, we asked her council when would be a perfect date and today was the date we decided long before this BTL issue and the acquisition came up.”
Both leaders contend that the governance issues of the day go beyond partisan politics.
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