B.T.L. workers get behind local ownership

As the Prime Minister examines his options, workers at B.T.L. say they are fed up with foreign ownership and will settle for nothing less than putting the company back in Belizean hands. President of Belize Communication Workers Union, Paul Perriot and Management Representative Dale Trujeque, say it’s time for the Prime Minister to act on his promise to give Belizeans a chance.

Dale Trujeque, B.T.L. Management Representative
?We do not want ownership of the company to be restored to any foreign entity; be it the Ashcroft Group, the Carlisle Group or the Prosser Group. We are absolutely certain it?s not in the best interest of this country.?

Patrick Jones
?Are you in a position to say whether or not Belizeans can own BTL??

Dale Trujeque
?Yes?

Paul Perriot, President, B.C.W.U.
?We have sought funding agencies and we have come up with…if you hear about in the press about the Sunrise Company. They have actually sought funding and they are only three people. Now if you look at all the employees of BTL, which who actually run the company, BTL is viable. So the funding is there.?

Dale Trujeque
?None of these people are fighting with workers of this company. Let them resolve their squabbles otherwise we will help them resolve it.

Patrick Jones
?That sounds like a threat…?

Dale Trujeque
?No, it?s not a threat. That?s a fact.?

Paul Perriot
?They brought us down the path we are right now and we=re faced with all these injunctions and all these international courts that take away our own sovereignty from actually being able to make decisions for the company. Not even Belize could make decisions for the company as far as it looks right now. But we are putting it in their hands and kind of guiding them to make the right decisions for the company of BTL and also the employees.?

Perriot says that no timetable was given for the Prime Minister to respond to their letter, but says that an answer is expected as soon as possible.