Workers, phones still out at B.T.L.

While the politicians plotted strategy the people at the centre of the immediate crisis–the workers at B.T.L.–continued to play haul and pull with the authorities. News’s Patrick Jones reports.

Patrick Jones, Reporting
For the third straight day, workers of Belize Telecommunications Limited were in uniform but remained off the job as the telecom crisis dragged on.

With an impromptu rendition of the national anthem in the background competing with the shrill blaring of an emergency alarm, Christine Perriott of the Belize Communication Workers Union told News Five that the workers are fed up with they way they are being treated.

Christine Perriott, Member, B.C.W.U.
?Then we have commissioner in there, Jefferies in there with our C.E.O. and we are trying to find out what is happening. And it?s like there is a lock out, I mean, like we are not privy to be there. I can?t handle no more slaps. As a working mother I can?t handle that. Maybe man could take slaps, slaps, slaps, we could take pain, but I ain?t taking no more slaps, not from P.M., noh from nowhere. This is for the country, people. We are having a press conference and we will put out how this thing start because unu need to understand that this not B.T.L. employees, right. This is for the country. They are trying to sabotage our place, then ask us to go in, and then want to arrest us when we go in. What are you trying to tell me? Where is the alliance, we who put you there??

The B.T.L. employees stood their ground outside the company?s Princess Margaret Drive entrance, but their demeanour changed around mid-morning, when students of the University of Belize and S.J.C. Junior College marched in to lend their support to the cause.

Philip Willoughby, Special Delegate, UB Student Body
?We are just in solidarity with the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, as well as with the B.T.L. employees fighting for their company, for the thirty-seven percent holdings. And if you?re wondering why, it?s a wide array of national issues upon which we are standing out here for, not just B.T.L. per se, but all the national issues and what it brings to the country and how it is affecting all of us as citizens.?

Willoughby says the students of U.B. and S.J.C. sixth form support the stance taken by the unions in asking for the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to step down.

Patrick Jones
?Basically you are in solidarity with N.T.U.C.B.?

Philip Willoughby
?Right, one hundred percent.?

Patrick Jones
?How long will you be out here for??

Philip Willoughby
?Well the struggle will not end here; it will be a continuous process. We are in this for the long haul.?

Patrick Jones
?Meaning, that you will start cutting classes??

Philip Willoughby
?Whatever it takes.?

Moses Sulph, Pres., U.B. Student Government
?If we don?t take a stance now, then we won?t have a country to stand up for later. Because the fact of the matter is, like the battle of St. George?s Caye, they never stand up and fight for this place, we wouldn?t be here today. So they stand up, we are standing up today because we know that we will be affected and we don?t want these things to continue happening over and over again. And if Belize has the majority shares, then they can make better decision and the money can stay in this country and go towards our economy.?

Paul Perriott
?So far I just came from a meeting, so I don?t know what is happening inside there, but I know that we have measures in place to restore back system, we have that agreement with the government, so basically that is where are at right now with regards to our issues here at B.T.L.?

Patrick Jones
?So when can the Belizean people expect to start getting the service back online??

Paul Perriott
?Well I would suspect as soon as this afternoon.?

And while Perriott was speaking with News Five, this government vehicle tried to enter the B.T.L. compound, but the workers–assisted by the students–would have none of it and the driver, whoever he is, had to drive away. Patrick Jones, for News Five.

At news time, telecommunication services had not advanced beyond limited local telephone service within Belize City and other municipal areas.