PBL Explains Terminations

As the situation played out on its compound, the Port of Belize issued a release stating that at eleven o’clock it was obliged to proceed to terminate thirty-six employees due to redundancy. It explained that the affected workers will receive the full benefits and compensation they are entitled to.  The Chief Operating Officer, Pablo Salinas is quoted saying, “that the terminations due to redundancy were necessitated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown of Belize and the global economic downturn, which, cumulatively resulted in a drastic reduction in the volume of PBL operations and an overall fall in revenue of forty one percent.” According to the release, PBL strived to maintain its full staff complement for as long as it possibly could but worsening economic conditions combined with illegal strike action resulting in delays and substantial loss of revenue, has made it impracticable to continue to do so.  It concludes that the decision was made in the long term interest of its employees, PBL and the general public.