City Council candidate expelled from PSU

The Public Service Union has expelled its Secretary General because he is running for political office. The PSU says they made the decision because Hubert Enriquez represents public officers, who are banned from political activity and the general membership had not endorsed his candidacy. Enriquez is running as an independent in the upcoming Belmopan City Council elections. While the PSU says it recognizes his constitutional right to run for office, in their view, it is unethical for the elected Secretary General of the Union and a full time member of staff to do so. Enriquez has described the decision as “a dirty tricks campaign” which is “clearly out of sync” with the principles of the trade union movement and the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution of Belize. He says he has been an active member of the union for ten years, but is not subject to the rules governing government workers since he resigned from the public service two years ago. He has filed an appeal with the Council of Management and says he will not be deterred from offering his services to the people of Belmopan and Belize as a non-partisan individual. The Belmopan City Council election will be held March first with the town board elections.