Tower Hill workers march in O.W.
The protests against government organised by the National Trade Union Congress were not confined to the old capital. News 5’s Patrick Jones reports from Orange Walk, where union workers from the Tower Hill sugar factory added to the size–and credibility–of demonstrations in that northern town.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
Hundreds of demonstrators armed with placards queued up at the Queen Elizabeth Park for their march through Orange Walk’s main streets.
Eva Carballo, Teacher, Trial Farm Government School
“As a teacher I am totally against the increase because I am a single mother, we have children to educate, we have other things. The price of everything di go up, our pay is not even adjusted.”
Patrick Jones
“What you hope will be the outcome of this demonstration?”
Eva Carballo
“I hope that they see that we mean business and so we reach an agreement.”
While the crowd was not as testy as was expected, organizers say the message was clear:
Horris Patten, Interim President, N.T.U.C.B.
“We are moving here for the simple fact that we are not in agreement with the hike in social security rates. And we feel that it’s out duty to send this message to the legislature to understand that we are totally against it.”
But while some people totally reject the proposed increases in Social Security contributions, a quick canvassing of opinions during this morning’s demonstration indicates that many people are more concerned over the way the increases were imposed than their actual financial impact.
Manuel Polanco, Teacher, Guinea Grass R.C. School
“I think the main issue behind this demonstration is the way in which government has gone ahead and tried to impose increase on Social Security contributions and we are dissatisfied with that. We are demanding that government at least consult with us before putting any bill or any law in plan for increases in Social Security.”
When the battle line was drawn at the start of the protest march, organizers took great care in pointing out that the issue at hand has nothing to do with politics. But with such a large gathering, politicians cannot help but have a field day. And U.D.P. Senator Marcel Cardona was up to the challenge this morning.
Marcel Cardona, United Democratic Party Senator
“Well I think this is very healthy for any democracy, in particular Belize. The people are obviously learning that their rights include that of demonstrating, protesting unpopular measures that government, any government wishes to introduce. And obviously from the feedback that I have received from the people, this is an extremely unpopular measure that the government is planning on undertaking.”
The slow march by demonstrators took them past the Social Security office before ending back at the park where representatives of the different unions addressed the crowd. In the end, N.T.U.C.B.’s acting president Horris Patten says that while all their objectives for the march were met, it’s too soon to declare victory.
Horris Patten, Interim President, N.T.U.C.B.
“Next will be decided by the Prime Minister. We have a meeting in Belmopan for four-thirty, which we have just learnt that the Prime Minister called and asked us to meet him at four-thirty. This being so, the result of that meeting will have a lot to do with what the trade unions will organize following that meeting. If at that meeting there is reasonable compromise, I think then the unions will listen and partake in those compromises. Once we agree that this is what needs to be done, then that is what we will do.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
News 5 has been unable to confirm the results, if any, of that meeting in Belmopan. The last word from the teachers union is that classes will be held on Tuesday. To be sure, parents are advised to check the radio and television tonight and tomorrow morning for the latest advisory.
