NTUCB and coalition ready to wield ‘big stick’ for ban on oil drilling

dylan reneau

Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt once said that he would “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” That idea of negotiating peacefully has been one adopted by the Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage in its bid to ban offshore oil drilling. The National Trade Union Congress of Belize is the most recent body to join the coalition, but the NTUCB’s sheer membership is more than intimidating to any central government and is a powerful bloc to reckon.  Dylan Reneau, NTUCB’s president, spoke softly during an interview with News Five on Thursday; but he made it very clearly that the unions under the umbrella have a voice of authority and carry a big stick.

Dylan Reneau, President, N.T.U.C.B.

“We have the public officers, we have teachers, we have people in the communication sector, electricity sector, water sector, common laborers, we have people in the sugar industry. So we have a vast majority of membership and certainly it covers the entire country. So When we speak we can speak with authority.”

Jose Sanchez

“If push comes to shove, and the coalition doesn’t get what it asks for using the muscle of the NTUCB, are you ready to wield that ‘big stick’ or use the march of the foot soldiers?”

Dylan Reneau

“Certainly we are there. It was a unanimous decision around the table and when that happens that’s normally a good sign. I know the people around the table are passionate about the issue. We’ve seen BNE rape us already and if we have the added danger of the destruction of our environment, that makes it a very critical issue for all of us because our livelihood, our standard of living is at stake.  So we have to play a critical role in this issue. One of the things I wanted to point out was that the oil industry—we need to have some legitimate conversations about the oil industry. I know I recall some time ago that the prime minister had talked about the debt for nature swap. Even that may be in jeopardy because of this whole oil industry move. So the conversation needs to be held at a national level, it needs to be held with the stakeholders and we need to come to a consensus; yes you are the government, yes you have a mandate but that mandate is stipulated by the people of this country. And listening to the radio waves, it’s quite clear that the people of this country are seeing what is happening in the gulf, are concerned and certainly they don’t want any of that to happen in Belize.”

The coalition is asking for meetings with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Fisheries Department, and the Prime Minister.