G.O.B. Green lights A.S.R./B.S.I. Move to Big Creek; Stevedores React to Economic Blow

Evan “Mose” Hyde

There was disappointing news today for the Christian Workers Union. For the past twelve days, those stevedores who are members of the union have been on a go-slow on the sugar barge at the Port of Belize. The C.W.U. contends that a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and Banana Enterprises Limited in 2006 prevents A.S.R./B.S.I. from moving its operations down south.  Cabinet met to discuss the matter yesterday. And today, during a meeting between C.W.U. and the Port of Belize, both parties were informed that A.S.R./B.S.I. has been given the go ahead, by G.O.B., to begin operating from Big Creek Port. With that, A.S.R./B.S.I. moved its sugar barge, and over the next few days, will continue to unload its sugar at Big Creek.  This move will cost the stevedores earnings to the tune of one hundred and seventy-five hundred thousand dollars. We got a reaction from the President of the Christian Workers Union, Evan “Mose” Hyde late this evening.

Evan “Mose” Hyde, President, Christian Workers Union

“It was in that Meeting that we were told by the C.E.O. of P.B.L. that he was contacted by the Minister of Utilities and Transport to inform him this afternoon that ASR can be about its business and go to Big Creek, and they will not be utilizing the M.O.U. in any way as it relates to that, and that is how the meeting began. And, the Minister of Labor eventually confirmed that to us. This comes on the back of the sugar ship leaving port this morning, standing our members who were working that. And so, we did have discussions outside of that process. But, for us, that is what we feel right now. We feel humiliated that we have not been engaged or notified, that there has been no… we sent a letter today to the Government requesting a position on the M.O.U.  So we are very insulted to get the Government’s position from the employer in the middle of a negotiation. We are every very deeply angry about that, we acted responsibly, we engaged.”