TV Channel 5 has updated transcript from last night's news show:
Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Creole, however, we attempt to paraphrase the quotes in English, while preserving some of the Creole flavour.
Unions call for 2 day strike
The nation's unions have finally decided on a response to Government's new tax measures: their answer? A two-day strike that is intended to bring a halt to central government operations, close the schools and curtail access to water, electricity and telecom services. At the same time, Belize's two main private sector organisations have called on business houses to close their doors, also on Thursday and Friday. This afternoon general secretary of the National Trade Union Congress, George Frazer, and Teacher's Union president Anthony Fuentes, visited our studios to explain their intentions.
George Frazer, General Secretary, N.T.U.C.B.
"Well we have agreed that we will have a total shutdown tomorrow, Thursday and on Friday.”
Stewart Krohn
"What do you mean by a total shutdown?”
George Frazer
"We will through our various unions effect measures, industrial action that we feel will bring about the attention of Government and we are asking the support and the understanding of the public for example the teacher’s union we are asking for all the teachers to come out to support our action.”
Stewart Krohn
"Primary School, secondary and tertiary?”
George Frazer
"Primary school, secondary, tertiary the U.B. students; the faculty and staff. They are all with us. We held a meeting yesterday with general managers of the Primary Schools and they were also a couple representatives form high schools and they’re all on board because the measures are national issues and also closer to home with the teacher’s union and the public service, our third payment of the third year salary increase.”
Stewart Krohn
"Okay, let’s go on to the unions. Public officers in general, not showing up for work Thursday and Friday.”
George Frazer
"Well that is our understanding. That’s the plan.”
Stewart Krohn
"Essential services, fire, immigration and things like that. They show up or they don’t show up?”
George Frazer
"Well we know some of the essential services like health, fire, security forces. We don’t want to jeopardize the best interest of Belize and our Belizean people. So they know that in the first instance, we would like for them to be on standby and the other services are not as essential. So yes, we expect all the other services to come on board and support the action.”
Stewart Krohn
APrivate companies: water, electricity, telephone. What’s happening with those unions?”
George Frazer
"Those unions have also indicated that they will affect the necessary measures. There could be some blackouts and also cutting in water.”
Stewart Krohn
"When you say affect the necessary measures, you are asking those workers to cause blackout, to cause water shortage and to cause phone blackout service or you are telling them not to show up for work. What’s the position?”
George Frazer
"Well they know what they are to do and could include all of the above.”
Stewart Krohn
"Other unions that make up the NTUCB that works for Ports and other private...”
George Frazer
"Christian Workers Union, the Belize Workers Union.”
Stewart Krohn
"Sugar workers; how about them?”
George Frazer
"They are all on board and they have already agreed on the measures they are going to take to shutdown.
Anthony Fuentes, President, B.N.T.U.
"As a union we have made it abundantly clear to all our educators in this country that there will be a total shutdown of all the schools on Thursday and Friday. So we are advising parents not to send their children to school on Thursday and Friday.”
George Frazer
"We had a meeting this morning with the minister of education. He requested a meeting with us and we explained our position. He said he understood our position and that he would not try to get in the way to pressure our course not to follow through. And he also indicated that he would not be in favour of taking away any monies from our people. Our branches have reported because most, if not all, of our branches held meetings over the past two days and they have indicated, many of them, that we ware willing to give back those days whether it’s a Saturday or some other for the students. Our interest is not to harm students or their parents but to focus on the weaknesses in the system, the abuses which will affect them.”
"The issues right now are national and down the line if we don’t take the necessary measures and sacrifices; it could be a long, hard summer for everybody.”
Stewart Krohn
"Let me cut to the chase here. Come Monday, let’s say your strike succeeds beyond its wildest dreams, hundred percent no show for teachers, public officers, all you union workers. What’s the next step? What are you trying to achieve by this industrial action?”
George Frazer
"We want to send a clear message to Government, Prime Minister and others. We have made some recommendations to them. We are prepared to work along with any Government and to try in the best interest of Belize to see where we can close the gaps. But first, we have to also close those loopholes and those areas where abuses have come.”
Anthony Fuentes, President, B.N.T.U.
"The national Trade Union Congress of Belize has written to the Prime Minister informing him that we want reform in our system. We are also saying that there are a lot of monies out there that the Government needs to collect. And we are saying that they need to collect these monies. There is no need for the Government of the day to tax the Belizean people and that’s the reason why as a responsible organisation we made recommendations to the Government. We met with them at Central Bank, we presented recommendations to them. They mentioned to us that they will look at our recommendation and then try to implement the recommendation that we suggested to them because it was coming from both the Chamber and the Trade Unions.”
P.S.U. says essential services will function
With government employees being asked to stay off the job over the next two days the question arises of what about essential services like police, fire and medical care. According to Public Service Union president Dylan Reneau, there is no reason for citizens to worry.
Dylan Reneau, President, P.S.U.
"Being a responsible union we have tried to work an agreement on how we will deal with that situation and we certainly will not shutdown any hospitals or any essential services. What we want to have is a token or a skeleton staff there to ensure that the services carry on. But still we want some of the members of those organisations to be out there to show a united front.”
Stewart Krohn
"Let's say air traffic controllers; they will be working? Planes will still land?”
Dylan Reneau
"Yes, they will be working.”
Stewart Krohn
"Immigration officers at the airport and border points?”
Dylan Reneau
"Yes, a token staff.”
Stewart Krohn
"What are you looking to gain from this exercise?”
Dylan Reneau
"Well, we are trying to get the Government to understand that we want the reforms that we=ve been asking for to be implemented. The fact that we can=t accept any more taxes--the way how the system is set up appears as if though only the poor and the working people who are paying majority of the taxes. We want this tax resume to be more balanced where everybody in this country has to bear that burden. Basically, at the end of the day, we also have an issue where we are trying to get our collective agreement dealt with; get the last salary increase.”
Stewart Krohn
"It has been alleged by some that what you=re really interested in most is getting your salary and the taxes are really just a smokescreen. What=s the highest priority for union?”
Dylan Reneau
"The priority are basically as the we set it out right now. Reform, we want the system to be changed. I drew the illustration this morning on Love FM that in 1994 we were in this situation. Only the Public Service Union faced the full grant of those corrective measures. Now we are here in 2004/2005 in a similar situation, but even worst; magnified is occurring now. So they must be something wrong with our system and we have to get rid of the mismanagement and the corruption and our reforms as they were put out there will address this issue. And I think that the politicians don=t necessary want to let go of that power because some of those reforms were basically streamlined and developed check and balances to these ministers who have now become somewhat of a demagogue in our society.”
Members of eight unions affiliated with the N.T.U.C.B. have been asked to participate in a demonstration at Friday's meeting of the House of Representatives in Belmopan. On Thursday, the B.N.T.U. is asking all teachers from the Belize District to take part in a protest march scheduled for eight thirty in the morning at Memorial Park in Belize City.
Business groups will also close shop
For their part, Belize's two main private sector groups have asked their members to close their doors on Thursday and Friday. It is not clear how many businesses will comply with the request but a check around Belize City indicates that a significant number will remain open. We are assured by a spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce that those proprietors choosing to close their doors will still pay their employees their full salaries for the two days.
P.M. says strike is politically motivated
While the unions and business groups make their plans for Thursday and Friday where does Government stand? Today Prime Minister Said Musa, in a recorded address, castigated the Leader of Opposition as a "reckless politician careless of the harm he does to the Belizean people and to Belizean democracy." The protests, he claims, have little to do with economics.
Prime Minister Said Musa
“What we have here is clearly not a legitimate trade dispute or sector grievance, but a politically motivated attempt to profit from the situation, with reckless disregard for the damage done to our people and to our democracy. The UDP, which in its last term imposed itself on the people for three months more than is constitutionally the practice, is trying to bring down a popularly and democratically elected government three years before its constitutional term expires. This is all about a reckless thirst for power by a few political demagogues who have managed to manipulate a few leaders of legitimate and respected institutions whose members will, I am sure, not allow themselves to be so used."
On Friday the stage has now been set for possible confrontation as the Peoples United Party has called on all of its supporters to assemble in Belmopan at the meeting of the House of Representatives.
Here are the interviews from Belize Channel 7 on last night's newscast:
Belizeans Preparing for Nationwide Shutdown
The NTUCB calls it a peaceful revolution and tonight, it has Belizeans across the city making it with only a trickle of water. The outage which we are told is a product of maintenance work and not industrial action has affected mainly residences on the south side which are right now still without water, while there is low water pressure reported in some areas on the north side. But a full outage is still in the works and water unionists tell us that the best advice they can offer to city residents is that they should bathe and get their reservoirs full early tomorrow.
But that's only a small part of tomorrow's worries as schools and businesses will be shut down all in protest of the Musa administration's new tax measures. We'll have comment from the teacher's union leader in just a few minutes ago as our news team caught up with the NTUCB group at a special planning meeting that is going on right now. But, first.... today, the fear of shortages created a consumer panic across the city as shoppers thronged stores buying the kinds of supplies that typically would only be used in a hurricane. 7NEWS was on the streets for the disaster readiness shopping frenzy.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Today Belizeans were preparing for the worse.
Shopper #1,
"Preparing for this thing like it is a hurricane because without water and light, you can't eat and you can't bathe and you know women have to bathe."
Shopper #2,
"This reminds me of when they had Heads of Agreement when all the stores were broken up. I could remember because I got tear-gassed and I can remember about it. All the stores downtown, Orange Street, Albert Street, King Street, all the stores were broken up. It was a real riot and I can never forget about that."
It is not the Heads of Agreement or a natural disaster but today Belizeans were filling carts and reaching deep into their mid-week pockets to prepare for a mass shutdown of businesses. So what were people buying? We looked into the carts of frenzied shoppers at Publics Supermarket.
Shopper #1: I am stacking up on a little food because I need to feed my grandson. I don't worry about me but my grandson. I have some eggs and things, which I could use. Like for bread I bought my flour because I can knead and make my little fry cake. But I am telling you water is gone so I had to use a little milk pan to wash my underarm.
KS: What are you expecting to happen?
Shopper #1: I am expecting the worse to come and no better; the worse.
AN: Where is the money coming from to buy this?
Shopper #1: Well I had to go borrow a little money. This is money I borrowed to do some shopping because I am broke and I have to work tomorrow so this is like hurricane.
Shopper #3: The water is already cut off so I am just stacking up on supplies to last me the next few days because they say water going, light going, and phone going.
KS: What do you think will happen?
Shopper #3: I am really not sure man but I am just preparing.
KS: So what are you buying?
Shopper #3: Well just little groceries man, the basics.
Shopper #4: Well brown sugar and basic things.
KS: What are you expecting? Are you expecting for us to be blacked out from everything the next couple days?
Shopper #4: Yes.
KS: So how are you able to afford all this in the middle of the week?
Shopper #4: Well something has to happen. I have to get money from somewhere.
KS: So these are the necessities?
Shopper #4: That's right. You know you have like your noodles and macaroni and cheese…
KS: How long do you expect all of this to last you?
Shopper #5: Well I have some home left over from the Christmas holiday so this is just to add on to what I have.
KS: You are stocking up on candles.
Shopper #2: Yes, I am getting candles because I heard no light and you have to have light right.
KS: And then I see you have flour and…
Shopper #2: Flour and rice. These are the staple foods right and I could make fry cake and tortilla.
But tortillas is not the only concern of the people, today lines of cars cued up to fill up on gas as the frenzied mood of uncertainty possessed city dwellers as well as those living out of the city.
Driver,
"You need that for transport because I live up north and if I want to go out this weekend now is the only time I can buy gas."
The mass shutdown will be a mass inconvenience but for one driver it's worth it.
Driver,
"I'm glad people are taking a stand though. We need to take a stand as a whole country together. Me personally I think it is a good move so we just have to keep on praying and ask the Lord to guide us and guide our Ministers and thing. I believe this country really need prayers right now."
PM Musa Urges Calm...
And to try and allay the kind of panic that was evidence in the city today, at 12:30 the Prime Minister made a national address on the radio. He urged calm and promised to maintain a level of comfort for the populace even in the face of possible water and electricity outages. The PM also took a political swing at Opposition Leader Dean Barrow; here are remarks from both leaders.
Dean Barrow, Opposition Leader
"This budget then with unbelievable gall and faciness demands that we pay for the plunder of DFC and SSB, for Intelco and Mahogany Heights, for Los Lagos and Galleria Maya. This budget demands that we pay for all the scandals and the waste, the corruption and the rape of the past 6 years. But this budget is the last straw, the final insult, and the positive proof of the complete and absolute illegitimacy of this government. There is now not only a total lack of confidence in the current administration but a disgust and anger that is at boiling point. If there is one ounce of good sense remaining, if this administration can care even a wit for our devastated country, they will finally do the right thing, the decent thing, and the democratic thing. And so I implore them, do not let our nation become ungovernable. Do not let it slide into chaos. For all our sake and for all the Belizean people, go and go now."
Said Musa, Prime Minister
"It is unfortunate that the constitutional Leader of the Opposition has chosen to make a call to our peace loving people that can only be interpreted as a summons to civil unrest and lawlessness. We are faced with threats to interrupt our essential services and in particular our water supply. As a responsible government we will not stand idly by and allow our people to remain without that essential of life, water. We cannot allow our children, our mothers, our elderly, or any of our people to endure the real suffering that lack of water will entail. Rest assured that we will protect you and ensure that you have the water and electricity you need to continue to enjoy the basic comforts of life."
For the full text of the Prime Minister's message click here.
...While Unions Prepare for Peaceful Revolution
In his statement, the Prime Minister chided the unions for making the lives of Belizeans uncomfortable. But they are not hearing or having it. The unions have adopted a hardline in which they call this a peaceful revolution, where according to a statement, they, "hope for the best and prepare for the worst." Tomorrow the worst means that school will not be in session as teachers are going on an immediate strike.
This evening as the NTUCB leaders met to discuss strategy, Keith Swift got comment from the President of the BNTU, Anthony Fuentes.
Anthony Fuentes, BNTU President
"We were on the radio station this morning, LOVE FM, and we've made the call to all our teachers, from both pre-school up to the University of Belize, to be on a strike for two days which will be Thursday and Friday."
Keith Swift,
What do you expect these children to do for the next two days?
Anthony Fuentes,
"Well we have said over and over again that its time for us as educators of this country to stand for the rights of the Belizean people. And we made it clear that we will not stand up for any increased or new taxes."
Keith Swift,
We know the teachers won't be in school but I understand a demonstration is planned?
Anthony Fuentes,
"Yes a demonstration will be held in the districts of Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize City, and the Toledo District. Then on Friday, we have 10 branches of BNTU, so teachers from Stann Creek, Cayo, and Belmopan itself will be in Belmopan to demonstrate against the new increases in taxes."
Keith Swift,
The management council of the NTUCB is meeting right now. What is being discussed?
Anthony Fuentes,
"Well as a responsible organization we need to assess what is going on so far and assess any further plan of action that we might want to undertake."
No other union leader would comment on camera as they are still devising their strategy. A union official from Belize Water Services stressed that the service interruption this afternoon in some areas of the city was planned and approved by the City Council as part of regular maintenance. That official however warned that there may be interruptions tomorrow. And while BEL via press release has assured customers that they have a contingency plan in place, no official from your water company was available to do the same.
And Businesses Agree to 2-Day Shutdown
But the national shutdown they seem to be planning goes along with the Chamber's decision to shutdown tomorrow. Last night at the meeting, the chamber membership agreed to a two-day shutdown of their member businesses. After the meeting, Chamber President Arturo 'Tux' Vasquez explained to Keith Swift.
Arturo Vasquez, Chamber of Commerce President
"A resolution was passed for the closure of businesses. The initial resolution by the executive was really to have an agreement on whether they were prepared to close down as a means of making a stance or at least making a point."
Keith Swift,
What do you hope this will accomplish?
Arturo Vasquez,
"At this point I believe we've had a lot of discussions. I think government having read their budget on Friday and passed all 3 readings of the finance bills and made it law, perhaps closes the door to continue dialogue on that regard. We also think that the reforms that we have been requesting are being inadequately addressed as well. So from the point of view of the executive and certainly as President I think we have done our part. Now it comes to taking it to the membership now for first of all for them to agree that our position has been correct all along and if that is the case then what really is our way forward. That was the purpose of this meeting today. This meeting was to first of all update our members which I did in my presentation. The immediate reaction really was that people are disappointed with what occurred. So the main objective today was coming up with a resolution and a way forward. The resolution the Chamber had made, initially, was suggesting a shutdown. We don't want to address not paying any taxes at this point. We need to leave some further dialogue for later on. The recommendation was a one day shutdown. Interestingly as we presented this to the membership, nobody was satisfied with just one day, the majority was shouting for 2 or more. But I don't feel we need to get too irresponsible at this point. I think we need to address it little by little. So the resolution, to answer your question, is it's a two day shutdown for Thursday and Friday."
Joining the Chamber chorus, the Belize Business Bureau today called for a 3-day shutdown of businesses. The BBB noted that the increased environment and business taxes will burden Belizeans. The BBB has asked all their members to close tomorrow through to Saturday. The Chamber says that it has confirmed that 123 businesses will close down tomorrow, including 25 Chinese Grocers. Brodies will remain open meanwhile Atlantic and Scotia Banks along with Bowen and Bowen Limited have voiced support for the effort but they will not close.