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The government of Belize has settled with both Fortis and the Ashcroft Group in the arbitrary nationalizations of B.E.L. and B.T.L. But in this case that is not the end of that. In what to our knowledge is an unprecedented scenario, the Bar Association on Wednesday night passed a resolution to apply to the CCJ […]
Written on October 1, 2015 | Posted in
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Even as general elections looms, in fact just thirty-four more days to go, a number of small political parties have banded to form what they call a labor movement. This morning, the political activists announced they have fifteen thousand of half a million dollars they need for a campaign and eleven of thirty-one candidates required […]
Written on October 1, 2015 | Posted in
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While the newly formed Belize Progressive Party officially introduced itself, as well as its eleven candidates earlier today, it is still short of twenty-one nominees for the organization to contest all thirty-one constituencies. So, with an absence of candidates, Party Leader Patrick Rogers was asked if he has approached familiar names, including activists Giovanni Brackett […]
Written on October 1, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Belize Progressive Party, Did They Approach Usual Suspects for Membership?
Since the beginning of the week, several unions including the Christian Workers Union on behalf of its Social Security Board members, the Belize Energy Workers Union, as well as the faculty and staff of the University of Belize and the staff of the K.H.M.H. have been accelerating demands for salary increases and benefits. As the […]
Written on October 1, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Anthony ‘Boots’ Martinez Says “Unions Are Jacking G.O.B.!”
Since the announcement of early general elections on Monday, political machineries on both sides of the political fence joined now by a new third party, are gearing up for November fourth. The U.D.P. is seeking a third term in office while the P.U.P. is hoping it can break the U.D.P. control of government. When we […]
Written on October 1, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on U.D.P. Ground Commander is Ready to do Battle in Port Loyola
A full round of negotiations between the CWU-represented stevedores and the Port of Belize Ltd. is scheduled to kick off next week after a protracted delay and hard feelings. The last challenge will lie in the agreement on a framework for CBA negotiation which includes specific issues to be discussed as well as timelines for […]
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President of the CWU Audrey Matura will head the negotiating team in discussions of a framework next week. She told News Five that the negotiations have come a long way, and there is hope for very successful discussions leading to a concrete CBA. Audrey Matura-Shepherd, President, Christian Workers Union “I’ve done my best to […]
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Comments Off on CWU President Anticipates Successful Outcome of Negotiations
As we understand, the journey to a successful CBA starts with an expedited agreement to a framework. And compromise on a framework will hinge on various issues including insurance for the workers – something which is very high on the stevedore’s list of priorities, but maybe not quite as high on the Port of Belize’s […]
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The four MOUs signed by the CWU of old and the Port of Belize Limited may well turn out to be a significant obstacle on the road to CBA settlement. Both Vasquez and Matura-Shepherd have very different thoughts on the validity of those MOUs which should make the meeting next week very interesting. Arturo […]
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For one week, sixty employees of the First Caribbean International Bank from five branches countrywide were out sick. Those terribly ill employees are those who will be left without jobs when FCIB locks up shop, allegedly at the end of this month. They want FCIB to negotiate proper exit packages for them, considering their long […]
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The government has passed a Vesting Act which facilitates the transfer of shares from FCIB to the Heritage Bank. There was some opposition to the passage because it was felt it removed any employee leverage in terms of negotiations. The Prime Minister allayed those fears by stating that the act would not come into law […]
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Comments Off on …CWU President Says Prime Minister’s Words Are Little Comfort in Discussions
As we told you on Wednesday, S.S.B. employees are also signalling their frustration with the Board. We are told unofficially that that frustration may lead to industrial action sooner rather than later. There’s quite a lot of that going around right now which certainly has a lot to do with general elections in a month. […]
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In his Independence Day speech, the Prime minister of Belize announced that thirty-seven million dollars will be spent for Phase Two of the South Side Poverty Alleviation Program that falls under the ministry of Port Loyola area rep., Anthony “Boots” Martinez. Martinez clarified today that those monies, which are being provided through a loan from […]
Written on October 1, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Boots Clarifies Use of OPEC Funds for Southside Poverty Alleviation
According to statistics available, poverty has increased substantially so that over forty percent of the population is living in poverty. Notwithstanding, government has been claiming that the implementation of several initiatives, including the BOOST and Pantry Programs of the Ministry of Human Development, Social Transformation and Poverty Alleviation, have been met with success. In the […]
Written on October 1, 2015 | Posted in
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In this side of the world, the population is ageing rapidly and living longer and countries are signing on to the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons. The National Council of Ageing, for its part, released a five-year plan which sets out strategies to address the many challenges facing the older […]
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October first is celebrated as International Day of Older Persons. The Global 2015 theme is “Sustainability and Age Inclusiveness in the Urban Environment.” One local organization that works daily to keep older persons included and engaged is Help Age Belize. There are Help Age Branches countrywide and tonight on Healthy Living, we stop in to […]
Written on October 1, 2015 | Posted in
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There were no blackouts today and B.E.L. employees were on the job, despite threats of a nationwide strike. Disaster was averted because of a last minute intervention by Prime Minister Dean Barrow Tuesday evening. That led to a capitulation by B.E.L. management and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding late today which effectively signals […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.E.W.U. Signs Memorandum of Understanding with B.E.L. Management
The MOU was signed at around five this evening, but that doesn’t mean that the management of B.E.L. is happy about it even though the union got less than they were bargaining for. Still yet, the situation would have been handled much differently if not for one thing – general elections in a month. Government […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Union Gets Less Than it Bargained For
Marvin Mora is the spokesperson of the BEWU, but he is also the President of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize. That umbrella organization was increasingly vocal on a number of hot-button topics of late, but the dynamic certainly changes with the announcement of elections. We asked Mora for his input on the issues […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on N.T.U.C.B. President Weighs in on Election Lead Up
Mora also, interestingly, condemned the inability of trade unions to stand up for the people of Belize. It’s a criticism that’s certainly been expressed in different sectors, but coming from the President of the N.T.U.C.B., that’s pretty big news. Mora went so far as to say that for one reason or the other, the trade […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Marvin Mora Criticizes Trade Union’s Inability to Support Social Issues
Even as the Prime Minister has stepped in to pour water on the sizzling coals at B.E.L., he may have to think about doing the same at the Social Security Board. News Five has confirmed that employees of that statutory body are contemplating very immediate industrial action if their demands are not met. Those employees, […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Industrial Action Looming at S.S.B.?
From the B.E.W.U. to the S.S.B. to U.B. …where we are told faculty and staff have given President of the institution Alan Slusher one week to respond to their demands for a fourteen percent salary adjustment. Those employees point out that just like public officers, in 2003 they received a raise and again, just like […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Prime Minister Dean Barrow formally announced the date for the upcoming general elections on Monday, sixteen months short of his five year term in office. The snap election is causing serious concerns in respect of the electoral lists. The Opposition Leader, Francis Fonseca, in a letter to PM Barrow dated September twenty-eighth, notes that the […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Steadily declining profits, stagnant revenues, declining dividends….That’s what shareholders and senior management at Belize Telemedia Limited are facing six years after the utility company was nationalized. On Tuesday night, at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel, the company convened its Ninth Annual General Meeting. The financial reports were about a two-million-dollar drop in profits […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.T.L. Loses $2 Million in Revenue in 2015
Shareholders received twenty-three cents per share in dividends, down one cent from last year. Chairman of the B.T.L. Executive Committee, Anwar Barrow, has completed one year as the company’s effective Chief Executive Officer. Despite the two-million dollar drop in profits, the Prime Minister’s son says he is not overly concerned and that the company is […]
Written on September 30, 2015 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.T.L. Shareholders Receive 23 Cents per Share in Dividends
