Dangriga Mayor denounces action of the First Caribbean Bank
Gilbert Suazo
This afternoon, Dangriga Mayor Gilbert Suazo, himself a prominent member of the Garifuna community, denounced the action of the bank. According to Mayor Suazo, the idea of restricting employees of the bank from speaking Garifuna, particularly in an area where the ethnic composition is primarily Garifuna is absurd.
Via Phone: Gilbert Suazo, Dangriga Town
“This is not an issue perhaps specific to Uwahnie Martinez. I think what it is, a pointed subject that I think is very much… I am very much disappointed at the level of discrimination that is happening at the First Caribbean Bank. That issue I believe ought not to have happened in any way or form. When I first heard of it verbally from other people including emails that I received, I first thought that there was not much substance to what this issue was. But after having investigated and spoken to several parties that are concerned with this issue, I personally believe that it is ridiculous, discriminatory and a violation of the constitution rights of the individual and again discriminating against the Garinagu people here in Dangriga. Having spoken to the country manager, and I can say Mister Glen Smith, who categorically say it to me that it is the fundamental core policy of the bank that English ought to be spoke within the confines of the bank and that there is no other language that ought to be shouted across from the bank, I find it rather ridiculous because if and when you enter into the first given bank in Dangriga, the first people that you would see through a transparent glass will be the two loan officers who happen to be Garifuna. Garifuna is in Dangriga; the highest in terms of the demographic and it is the stipulated by the Statistical Institute of Belize. And those that know of the Garifuna culture, it is respectful and it is good manner for us to greet anyone. So are you then suggesting that when a Garifuna person enters into the bank, they will not be able to…they can communicate to the loan officers, but the loan officers who are two Garifuna will not be able to respond to them but go to them quietly and say let’s go into the cubicle and speak Garifuna because it is not allow. I think that is ridiculous.”
The Christian Workers Union, in responding to CIBC First Caribbean, says it will be calling on the Labor Department to intervene in the matter since it is apparent that due process and equity is lacking.
Totally agree with Mr Swazo. You go into any bank internationally and you are greeted at the door and staff in their local dialect. Business is then conducted in the second language as agreed by the banks policy which in this case is English. What if the customer does not understand English, will Spanish or Chinese be used or will the staff be penalised for using common sense in conducting the banks works. Definitely a discriminatory factor here…….
If this is a bank policy then I see nothing wrong with the bank imposing its policies and if the bank wishes it’s employees to speak only English I see nothing wrong with this eighter this is a private entity people in Belize watch too much tv from the states that is why they are going down the tubes because no one wants to work and everyone wants to tell their employer what they want to do if this was a gov job then fine but it is a private business and they can dictate their own polices if you don’t like it quit but no one has said if this is a bank policy was she told this when she was hired.
somebody please run this Glen Smith from Dangriga; Glen Smith as an individual who has no culture, so he is jealous and FCIB as a Bank are more than facey………… it is like some one entering into your house and telling you that can do certain things in your own home…..
This is ridiculous and the bank should be held responsible for discrimination against ethnic groups
All Garifuna people who have transactions with that bank should just start figuring how they can pull out. Leave them with just their building since they are discriminating against them. Just don’t do anymore business with that disrespectful bank and see if they will not have to pull out. They are disrespecting our brothers big time. After all we are all Belizeans and the Garifuna folks are our brothers.
First Carib needs to learn that they should put Carib First in Dangriga if they plan to serve the people of Dangriga!
So what Spanish people will have to stop speaking Spanish too and all Belizeans will have to stop speaking Creole too? This way we will only be left with English another borrowed language; do we see how ignorant this was on the part of the bank?
Please let us not become as ignorant as America!