March supports medical professionals; next stop unclear
As marches go, the one held on Saturday was neither the largest nor the smallest to wind its way through the old capital. It focussed on the latest government financial scandal–that is the forty-five million dollar government guaranteed loan default of Universal Health Services. But while virtually everyone–including P.U.P.’s–agree that Belmopan screwed up monumentally, there is no real consensus on what to do next. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports.
Kendra Griffith, Reporting
This was what the Memorial Park looked like at 9:15 Saturday morning, fifteen minutes after the Belize Medical and Dental Union-organised march was supposed to start. Union treasurer, Dr. John Sosa, was nonetheless upbeat.
Dr. John Sosa, Treasurer, B.M.D.U.
“We hope to get a little crowd. I was expecting two hundred people; we have more than that and for me that is a success because our union is small and so it seems, at least in my expectations surpass that. We are running late. Unfortunately, as usual we are on Belize time, so we’re just waiting to see what time we move off.”
By the time they were ready to move off, approximately twenty minutes later, a sizeable crowd had amassed. According to the B.M.D.U. the purpose of the march and rally is to appeal to government to properly manage public finances.
Dr. Jose Moguel, President, B.M.D.U.
“We believe, strongly believe—I could say it’s a conviction that it’s unfair for the tax payers to take over the commitments, loans from other private institutions.”
Dr. John Sosa
“Our objective was to encourage the government of Belize as regards the U.H.S. loan and U.H.S. situation that if they pay it, they take it over and of course if they take it over in some way they have to run and that is what we wish for. We really don’t want the place to continue as is and then private interests are still making money off it and we are paying their loan. We see that as wrong.”
The B.D.M.U.’s effort received support from the National Trade Union Congress of Belize …
George Frazer, Assistant Gen. Secretary, NTUCB/ Executive Sec, B.N.T.U.
“Government’s obligation is to look after the interests of providing the basic services and this is what it’s all about, standing up, sending a message to Belmopan, please listen to the people, please invest our limited resources to the best interests and services of our people. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Public Service Union.
Dylan Reneau, President, P.S.U.
“The PSU represents workers within the public healthcare system and they have been making complaints to the union for some years, so we had to basically get into this demonstration because our members have been affected by some of the decisions that this government has made.”
And the Belize Communication Workers Union.
Paul Perriott, President, B.C.W.U.
“We’re supporting the Medical and Dental Union, we are supporting the doctors at the K.H.M.H. I believe that at the end of the day what is happening to our healthcare system affects all of us, it affects the Belizeans out there who cannot afford to go to a Medical Associates or U.H.S. health centre and I believe that at the end we need to find healthcare services for Belizeans who cannot afford the higher level institutions.”
Even the Association of Concerned Belizeans, and St. George’s Caye Day Society were accounted for. And as they marched, they chanted … venting their frustration on a number of fronts.
“Ashcroft, let our people go, respect the law.”
“Did they reform? No. Did this government reform? No. Did this government reform? No. Did they resign? No. Did they really resign? No. So what next? All to be removed.”
“Troy and Glenn. Sick and Slip. Troy and Glenn. Sick and Slip. Troy and Glenn. Sick and Slip. Where must they go? Jail. Where must they go? Jail. Where must they go? Jail.”
After their walk through the city streets, the crowd returned to Memorial Park for some hard hitting speeches.
Godwin Hulse, Senator
“Mr. Prime Minister, make no doubt that I marched today not to oppose you or your government, but to take charge of my country. Mr. Prime Minister I march today to elevate myself from the status of your loyal subject to a status of your fellow citizen.
And I put you on notice that we will not accept the 2007 budget until we hear what happened to the audit. And I put you on notice that we demand an audit of the superbond and all the national debt so we know what the monies was spent on. And I put you on notice that we want to recover our money from the registry that you privatized illegally. And I put you on notice that section 22 of the finance and audit act says that you cannot wave fees without taking it to the National Assembly and I put you on notice that we want to collect the fees from all those who you waved it.”
David Vasquez, ACB
“Is N.H.I. really for the benefit of the average Belizean? Or is it designed to funnel money through to the chosen few at the expense of the poor. Once something benefit the privilege few, ladies and gentlemen, then it does not matter what you and I think. The people of Belize are crying out over the irrational manner in which the U.H.S. transaction was handled, yet the government ignores the cries of the people.”
Dr. Beatrice Thompson, B.M.D.U.
“Brothers and sisters, U.H.S. made a loan of seventeen million dollars from Belize Bank and never made a payment towards the principal or interest. After one year of this loan arrangement and with this type of history, the D.F.C. gave the major shareholders of this company twelve point three million dollars. At this point in time they have never paid back either of these loans.”
And now that they’ve marched and rallied, what’s next for the B.M.D.U. and the protestors?
Dr. Jose Moguel
“First, get support from the public at large and go ahead with whatever needed to get the attention and to get collaboration from the government.”
Rene Gomez, Senator
“We will take them to task and if they don’t act and if they don’t rescind, we will take to the streets and protest very vehemently.”
Paul Perriott
“If they don’t listen now, I believe that we need to continue. This is the beginning of it and I believe that the doctors and nurses have said that they will be going the long mile and we as the N.T.U.C.B. will be supporting that also.”
Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.
Estimates are that between five and seven hundred people participated in the march. About the only area of agreement among the critics of the U.H.S. debacle is that the original owners of the private health care company, primarily Dr. Victor Lizarraga, should be made to bear their fair share of the financial pain now being inflicted on taxpayers.
