Belize City Magistrate’s Court Closes after Employees Call in Sick

This morning the Joint Union Negotiating Team and the Government met to discuss the pending issues raised by the unions at their press conference last week. Viewers will recall that the unions set an ominous ultimatum to restore increments by April first or else… The looming threat is that if the union’s demands aren’t met, industrial action will follow. Well, this morning, even before the negotiating teams arrived at Marion Jones for the discussion, there were reports of a mass sick out at the Belize City Magistrates court. This morning, after eight a.m., the Coney Drive court building was shuttered, and Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser had to open the facilities for the magistrates. She then left for the meeting with G.O.B. and the joint union negotiating team. Fraser is the President of the Association of Public Service Senior Managers. Chief Magistrate Fraser says she is most concerned.

Sharon Fraser

Sharon Fraser, Chief Magistrate

“I was informed this morning that in fact members of staff did not show up to work this morning. I personally had to go and open up the office, so clearly I would not have been aware of the fact that they were not going to be there. How it impacts the public, well, we had to adjourn matters. So while the police were there, magistrates had shown up, they addressed the persons who were there. My only concern would have been the detainees because when I inquired when I got there is that they had taken back those who were detained. I am on my way back to the magistrate court right now to see how I can address those who have been detained and would have been eligible for bail. I would have at least had a conversation with the police to address those who at least can get police bail and then try to figure out how I can deal with those who would have needed the intervention of the court to get bail. I cannot tell them that they are not sick. Like I said, I was the one who physically went to open up the office and let in the magistrates who were there so that they at least could address the adjournment of matters and then I am going to see this afternoon how I can address the issues of any person who has been detained, would have been eligible for bail that the police themselves cannot deal with.”