Has Senator Ray Davis Been Booted?
Ray Davis
Ray Davis – is he in or out as senator for the unions? Well, our sources say he’s out, but when we spoke with President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, Marvin Mora, he would not confirm that. What we do know is that there was a meeting on Saturday with representatives of ten unions and a decision was taken on Davis’ future as senator. A long standing union member, Senator Davis first got into hot water when he abstained from voting on the Petrocaribe Bill. That abstention prompted a firestorm with several unions denouncing the senator because they were not consulted and his decision did not reflect the position of the N.T.U.C.B. The second Vice-President of the N.T.U.C.B., Audrey Matura-Shepherd even went on record to say that Davis should be terminated. Since then, the Senator has had the chance to explain his decision to the Congress and even submitted a letter—all which were taken into account to determine his fate. So, the short of it is—will Davis be at the next sitting of the senate? Reports reaching News Five is that he will not be. We understand that eight of the ten unions voted to give him the boot; except the Association of Public Service Senior Managers and the Public Service Union. We also learnt that there was a walk-out by the reps of those two unions. Today, Mora had this to say about the future of Davis.
Marvin Mora
Marvin Mora, President, N.T.U.C.B.
“What I can tell you so far is that a decision has been made. The Union has made a decision, but I can’t tell you what that decision is as yet because as you all know I have explained over the media that the Union has due diligence to its members first. Once we get through that hurdle, we will inform our membership of what the results were and where we are with the situation and sure will have an interview with you guys and give you more highlights and more details in that manner. But, a decision was reached by the Congress. It was not an easy decision. In fact, it is one of the hardest decisions that I have seen happen at the table of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, it wasn’t unanimous?”
Marvin Mora
“It was not unanimous but it was a very large majority. When we addressed this issue with Senator Davis, you best believe that everything was laid on the table, when I say everything, I mean everything; whatever transpired, whatever he did and whatever was the result of that. All of these things had to be laid on the table for the Congress to reach a decision. The Congress could not have made that decision without all the factors surrounding his actions and his decisions.”
Reporter
“So, he was not present right?”
Marvin Mora
“No, because this was for the Congress to make a decision based on what he –presented to us the last time around when we met with, solely to discuss the issues that we have been having.”
Andrea Polanco
“How soon will that decision be disclosed to the public?”
Marvin Mora
“Well, we are hoping that before the end of the week we will be able to tell the media a little bit more about it, nuh. Yet, it is important for us to highlight that, Brother Ray Davis is our brother and there are certain things that we would prefer to keep personal within the Congress. At the same time, when the Congress decision is made it is obvious that it will become public. What I can tell you is that we want this to be resolved because we want to participate in all Senate hearings and we don’t only want to participate, but we want to participate well represented within that senate.”
It is not known yet who will replace Davis as senator. First Vice President of the N.T.U.C.B., Adelaida Guerra, subbed for him at the last senate meeting, but according to union members, the process begins for nominations for a replacement.
