Deadline for Perriott report passes; unions want disclosure

It might have gone unnoticed given the protest rally in Belmopan but on Friday, the Minister of Labour was to have been presented with a comprehensive report regarding the firing of Christine Perriott from Belize Telecommunications Limited. The National Trade Union Congress of Belize issued a press release to that effect this morning but our attempts to verify whether Labour Commissioner Adelfino Vasquez met his deadline was unsuccessful as we were not able to reach him or Labour Minister Francis Fonseca. On March fifth, the Minister appointed Vasquez to “carry out a thorough investigation” and prepare a full report with “specific recommendations for action to be taken, if so determined, in accordance with the relevant laws and conventions.” At the time of her termination from the telecommunications company, Perriott, in her capacity as General Secretary of the Belize Communication Workers Union was negotiating with B.T.L. on an unrelated trade dispute. Her colleagues in the labour movement immediately cried “union busting” but the company has maintained that Perriott was fired because of the deteriorating relations between herself and management. The N.T.U.C.B. later rallied behind Perriott and called for her immediate reinstatement. But that alliance was called into question on Friday as neither Perriott nor any other executives or members of the B.C.W.U. showed up at the demonstration staged with her in mind. On this morning’s talk show circuit, Perriott maintained that her absence was due to a previous personal commitment and reiterated that the B.C.W.U. must “tread lightly and carefully” in its public actions.