NTUCB concerned about GOB amending rather than solving issues

Dylan Reneau

The emerging consensus over the proposed ninth amendment seems to favor nationalization but there is strong objection to the far reaching amendment that would deprive fundamental rights and freedoms.  The National Trade Union Congress of Belize, President, Dylan Reneau, says he could not get into Parish Hall, but here is their position.

Dylan Reneau, President, NTUCB

“Well the reason you haven’t heard from the NTUCB is that like most Belizeans we have to listen to all the views. I think sometimes when you’re premature and put out a view there without all the facts we can look bad. But really and truly the NTUCB, one of the things that I can say is that the NTUCB is in favor of nationalization of the utilities. The other aspects about amending the law to ensure that people are unable to vindicate their rights at the courts is where we have a serious deviation and that concern is premised on several instances that we’ve seen over the past three years. And I could recount some of them, one of them had to do with when the KHMH workers were on a go-slow when the government said they would’ve to amended the chapter two nine eight to restrict these workers from striking; restricting our rights, that’s of concern. We had the issue at the Social Security Board when we were told by our union not to attend the board meeting so that a quorum could not be held. We were told that that could’ve been fixed by the stroke of a pen. There are several other instances where we have seen this government’s propensity to if they are not having it their way they would fix the legislation to get it done. And for us that is where we are concerned about this whole amendment that particular area. If it’s amended, if it’s fixed and it only deals with the public utilities, we would be fine we would be able to support. But as it is right now in its present form we are kinda uneasy about it.”

Andrea Polanco

“So at what point can we expect an official release from the NTUCB stating their full position?”

Dylan Reneau

“Well the beauty about the process is that we have ninety days of consultation and certainly you will see trade unionist around the country attending these consultations taking note of the views because in our final deliberation and discussion in coming up with a position all of those points will be put on the table and discussed until we come up with a position that we’re comfortable with.”

Andrea Polanco

“Did you have the opportunity to see or listen in on the consultation that took place last night?”

Dylan Reneau

“I actually wanted to attend but at the end of the day the doors were closed, police didn’t want you to park here and park there and I thought that it was just a fiasco last night. But I did get a chance to listen to some of the comments and there were very legitimate comments that some people made last night and we’re taking note.”

While there is support for nationalization, one point that has been lost, is that in the Commonwealth, where the state controls utilities, ownership is never enshrined in their constitutions. The consultations will now go to the districts.