N.T.U.C.B. Moving Toward Firm Stance on Petrocaribe

Marvin Mora

Earlier this year the Belize National Teachers Union (B.N.T.U.) announced that they were holding countrywide consultations with their members about the Petro Caribe Bill 2015. The consultations were a part of the B.N.T.U.’s strategy to educate their membership on an issue that has become national discussion.  Several other unions have been vocal on their position on Petrocaribe, but what is the take of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize? We spoke with President Marvin Mora who told us that it hasn’t been easy to take a unified position since they continue to hold executive meetings on several national issues, including Petrocaribe.

Marvin Mora, President, N.T.U.C.B.

“So, what we are engaging into is a series of executive meetings. We started the first one and we have addressed the issue of the ICJ and the national territorial issues. That was an amazing meeting, because we had for the first time all the executives of the unions that form part of the Congress meet with the executive of the Congress and we also had participation from experts from both sides of the argument so that they could get a fair idea or a very clear in-depth idea of the two side of the argument so that they can reach a very personal decision in that case. We also plan to do the very same thing to address not only Petrocaribe, but in terms of our economy and our financial standing in this country. If you think about it, we still have not gotten rid of the Super bond and Petrocaribe is an on growing debt and we also may have to deal with the B.E.L. and B.T.L. repayment if the Caribbean Court of Justice reaches a decision. So, there are huge, huge issues to address in terms of the economy, but I am not an economist. So, we will have to get experts to come in, give us their take, present what facts they have so that the Congress executives and the executive of each and every single general council and every single union and members of the congress can reach some level of clear understanding of the issues so that we can present clear and stronger positions on the issue and from there, you best believe we are moving to the general membership after that.”