Cabinet may have rejected BTL’s proposed takeover of Speednet, but the controversy is far from over. Trade unions say Thursday night’s announcement does not settle the matter, not while government-appointed representatives on the BTL board have already voted in favor of the deal. The Belize National Teachers Union and other labor groups had been preparing to hit the streets in protest, and tonight, union leaders say those plans remain firmly in place. Their position is that Cabinet’s rejection is only one step. Those board votes must still be withdrawn. As the debate over the proposed acquisition continues to stir public concern, we spoke with National Trade Union Congress of Belize President Ella Waight for the unions’ reaction to government’s decision.
Ella Waight
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB
“It’s a great feeling and it’s justification as to what we do here at NTUCB and partnering with our social partners when it comes to national issues. So moving forward, first of all, let me give a great thanks to the social partners who ensure that we get to this point and to Belizeans and the whole and the media for ensuring that it was not just a no to the acquisition, but for people to understand why it’s a no. It’s easy to go there and show no for this and no for this and that, but educating is another aspect. And I think all entities did a very good job in ensuring that people understand why we were saying no to the acquisition. Moving forward now, today, as you can see, I’m wearing black and I’m happy to see you wearing black. We wanted to encourage Belizeans to start to understand the movement of unity so that we can progress as a nation. “
Britney Gordon
“Do we believe that this is definitive?”
Ella Waight
“I think because of the political impact that may happen within the cabinet, I think the Brazilian administration would hold to this and also because of what they see can happen when Belizeans stand together, they will hold to their word. I don’t feel that there would be any sense in reversing. I don’t think they would want that political backlash. I don’t think they would want a backlash from the social partners and from Belizeans as a whole. So I’m confident that they will move forward, continuing to do the right thing, listen to the people, listen to Belizeans. We did not take the decision just as I mentioned before, just willy nilly. We made sure we educated ourselves. We listened. We were hoping for public consultations that didn’t happen. So we had to go about and do our own consultations with persons who are in the industry or in the company of BTL, the workers trying to get information from the PUC, which we never got, but we did our research still. So I don’t think they would dare reverse their decision or dare try to bring this cycle back again. I think it’s DED as well.”
BTL-Speednet Deal Stopped, But Protest Still On
For the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, Cabinet’s rejection of the proposed BTL-Speednet deal is not a reason to stand down. It is a reason to press harder. Union leaders say the decision shows what organized public pressure can accomplish, but they insist the work is not finished. NTUCB President Ella Waight says member unions voted overwhelmingly to proceed with Tuesday’s demonstration, where the focus will shift from stopping one acquisition to demanding stronger safeguards, better oversight, and greater public accountability in decisions of national importance.
Ella Waight
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB
“It takes a process of NTUCB to go via eleven unions to make a decision on the way forward. And as you can imagine, our chat group yesterday, everyone was so happy, elated of the decision by the government, by the cabinet. So we had to make sure we go back to the presidents, go back to the unions and ask the question, do we still continue the movement on Tuesday with the demonstration on Tuesday? And overwhelmingly, the answer is yes, we continue with that. Simply because as much as we understand, like what one media person said, it’s a DED, we want to ensure that we don’t come back to this cycle, that we want to ensure that we progress. We want to ensure that we have better oversight bodies that represent the citizens of Belize. So we will go to the demonstration with some demands. And I don’t think they’re crazy demands. They’re demanding that I think that citizens have already been sharing via social media, via conversations. So yes, Tuesday at ten a.m., we’re asking Belizeans, don’t take it for granted that, yes, the cabinet said no, we still need to ensure that we show up, right? We show up for ourselves and for country. So ten a.m. in front of the BTL headquarters in Belize City and ten a.m. in Belmopan at the admin building. And that goes until one p.m. And we are trying to ensure that we get buses from all districts. And as we mentioned before, those coming from Corozal, Orange Walk, San Pedro, and those in Belize City, we’d like you to gather in front of the BTL headquarters. And those coming from Punta Gorda, Stann Creek, and those of us here in Cayo District, we gather at the admin building in Belmopan. If there are any changes between now and Tuesday, we will inform the public via your kind support from the media and obviously on social media. But for right now, we’ve already gotten the bonds signed and agreed on with the police department. So we are ready.”
Waight says Cabinet has blocked the deal, but Belizeans must stay vigilant and demand stronger oversight.
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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