Court orders new tribunal in B.T.L. case

The work of the tribunal chosen to resolve the case of three B.T.L. employees dismissed nine months ago will have to wait a little longer. This afternoon Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh ruled in favour of B.T.L.’s contention that the government displayed bias in its appointments and the Minister of Labour must now select a new panel within sixty days. The bias referred to includes a statement made by Minister of Labour Francis Fonseca when Union activist Christine Perriott was fired by B.T.L while she was negotiating on behalf of the three workers. Fonseca had called Perriott’s termination “an act of utmost bad faith”. B.T.L was represented in court by British attorney Nigel Plemming along with Andrew Marshalleck. Solicitor General Edwin Flowers appeared for the Ministry of Labour while Antoinette Moore represented the Belize Communications Workers Union. Meanwhile, the case of reinstated B.T.L employee, Christine Perriott, is expected to start either late this week or early next before Justice John Muria. Perriott was terminated from work shortly after the first three employees. She had challenged the company’s decision in court and Justice Muria had ruled that she be temporarily reinstated until the substantive case is decided.