K.H.M.H. Workers Union to Take Pension Issue to Court

The K.H.M.H. Workers Union has lawyered up and hired the services of Nazira Myles of Myles and Banner law firm.  Myles sent a letter to the C.E.O. on September sixth and up to news time, the letter has gone unanswered and now the matter is being taken before the court. President of the union, Lidia Alpuche Blake, told News Five this evening that the status of K.H.M.H. staff members needs to be clarified. 

Lidia Alpuche Blake, President, K.H.M.H. Workers Union

“It’s a challenge that someone needs to clear up. If not this government, then the coming government, whoever needs to clear up. Who are we? Are we not public servants?”

Hipolito Novelo

“According to the C.E.O., you are not.”

Lidia Alpuche Blake

Lidia Alpuche Blake

“But we do public service under the K.H.M.H. Act, we are a special group, not public servants, but there is a special clause in the act that we can follow because everything relates back to the Pension Act. The K.H.M.H. Act mirrors the Pension Act. Everything correlates in there.”

Hipolito Novelo

“The C.E.O. says that all of you fall under an authority and as such are not public officers. That, she says, has been declared.”

Lidia Alpuche Blake

“In 2015 the Prime Minister of Belize Dean Barrow made us a special case when it came to our salary increases. In 2015 in his speech her termed us that we were a special case.”

Hipolito Novelo

“So the next step is to take it to the court for it to be settled. What if the court decides that you are not a public officer?”

Lidia Alpuche Blake

“Well it is for the court to decide.”