The pressure on the Briceño administration appears to be building from more than one front. After today’s meeting between the UDP and the NTUCB, both sides seem prepared to coordinate their pushback over the Ministry of Defense scandal and the proposed Speednet buyout. But one major question remains: will the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry join that public pressure campaign? The BCCI has long preferred dialogue, letters, and behind-the-scenes engagement over street protest. So, during Wednesday’s media roundtable, we asked whether the Chamber is prepared to put diplomacy aside and take its concerns to the streets. Here is how they responded.
William Neal
William Neal, Executive Councilor, BCCI
“We have been having that conversation, because we have been doing the work. We have been acting win good faith, having the conversations, requesting the meetings and in some cases what has been the response from the administration? They have removed representatives form the Chamber from certain boards. That have been one of the ways. Oh, you wont have access to the information either. So when we are talking about transparency and ensuring that we have a seat at the table, it is not so that we can be quiet. It is so that we are able to get the information that people who might get the information don’t even know what to do with it. But I think you are asking a very important question, because we have been having that conversation, especially of late, and to see how you can actually get out into the streets and get people aware of what is happening and what action is required without it being politicized. Unfortunately, that is the big challenge you have, the minute you hear “oh this one is UDP, PUP, or whatever. That is why we have chosen to be grounded in policy.”
Giacomo Sanchez
Giacomo Sanchez, President, BCCI
“Do appreciate our constituents in terms of our membership is almost divided in the middle, so you won’t get the kind of ground swell that you would expect. That is just the reality of it. Hence the reason why we are grounded in policy, rather than just emotions and wanting to get out in the street.”
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.
