Belize Chamber Condemns Strike By Stevedores

Arturo “Tux” Vasquez

But what are the implications of the ship leaving the port with cargo destined for Belize? Well late this evening, The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a release strongly condemning the abrupt strike action taken by Gang Number Seven of the Christian Workers Union. As the only Employer’s Organization in Belize recognized by the International Labour Organization, the BCCI says that the “ill-advised strike action has costly consequences for the entire economy in terms of lost sales, lost government revenue, and lost income, particularly during the Christmas season and thus should not be treated trivially.” The release continues by saying that other ships may decide to avoid the risk of stopping in Belize and there are strong possibilities of further losses to the entire economy via delayed exports as well as imports. Earlier today, Port C.E.O. “Tux” Vasquez, who is also the President of BCCI, told the media that there will be an assessment of the loss to the economy.

Arturo “Tux” Vasquez, C.E.O./Receivership, Port of Belize

“What happened yesterday brings something else to light, the fact that there is a significant business effect when it comes to this…for a ship to go back with cargo. I am still not clear as to really what all the effects of that will be. Granted, the cargo will return—I am assuming—but still there is a loss of business, there could be loss of several things with it and I believe that at this point, the Port will proceed in trying to do a quantum as to what the loss is in what happened yesterday. We have to do that and we must provide that to the Port Authority because there has to be some sort of indication as to what loss was caused as the result of a ship sailing yesterday.”

As we said, the matter is now in the hands of the Labor Commissioner and whether his approach is an illegal strike or a labor issue, it is yet to be determined. Vasquez says that on Thursday morning another cargo vessel is to call to port in Belize and if the strike continues, negotiations will cease to happen.