Dean Flowers

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“As I explained to CEO Williams, it cannot be that full grown, experienced men and woman would all hear the same thing. And then communicate that what they heard, and then the ministry now say, that is not what was said. We’re not talking about one person, we’re not talking about two person. We’re not talking about three person. It cannot be that everyone across two terminals would’ve sat in a meeting and heard the same thing, which is what was communicated to us, only to find out that wasn’t said. But in any event, what’s important? What’s important regardless of whether the legal counsel and the chief transport officer would have communicated what was relayed to the union or otherwise. CEO Williams said it is four months that they’re giving them. If that is the fact, or if in fact it was forty-eight hours, that’s irrelevant. What’s important at this point in time is that we have notified the government by way of the CEO and the Ministry of Transport, that the approach that you’re taking is not in line with the established rules, practices of the public service. But what’s important is that communication has started, dialogue has started to date. However, we have not received any formal communication from either the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Transport as it relates to the future of these employees. What you know is what I know is what the CEO would’ve said on the news.”

Flowers Claims Government Steering Public Services into Private Hands

The battle over Belize’s bus terminal workers is widening tonight, and the Public Service Union says it’s part of something much bigger. After accusing the Ministry of Transport of pressuring officers to resign, PSU President Dean Flowers is now warning that the dispute fits into a long‑running push toward privatization, one he says threatens jobs, benefits, and eventually the cost of public services. As the union challenges what it calls an unlawful ultimatum to terminal staff, Flowers argues the government has been quietly shifting key functions out of public hands for years, and terminal management is only the latest step.

                   Dean Flowers

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“The Ministry of Finance pull off the same stunt with the com corporate with the companies and Corporate Affairs Registry. The Ministry of Finance is attempting to pull off the same stunt with the police tax services department. I want to take this opportunity also to point out the public officers that we’ve been saying this from a long time, as we stated in our press release, one by one, this administration in particular, and it started on that the Musa and Fonseca regime. It is them that drives this privatization of public service into private hands, and it is now continuing under Briceno, Coye, Courtenay regime. These people are hellbent in privatizing public service and we need to see this for what it is. It will come at a cost not only to the workers but to the very consumers who are not necessarily understanding these moves of privatizing public service. You all sat idly by and watch they picked off those company registry’s employees. You all sat, I will by and watch it, watch out and do it with, with Baja Farmers far back as 2000 KHMH, you all sat back and did nothing, and one by one these departments will be picked off. Will be placed in a private hands, and the next thing that I see coming might very well be the procurement of pharmaceuticals, which doesn’t happen. But with the rolling out and the pumping of public funds in the NHI, which clearly is not providing any alleviation on the public hospitals, they might very decide that they want is one pharmacy procurement unit, whereby the pharmaceutical mafias then can then control all the money. That is currently going in the Ministry of Health. This thing is serious.”

The PSU says the fight over terminal staff is just the latest move in a long push toward privatization, one it warns could cost workers and consumers much more in the long run.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post PSU Invites Transport Department to Negotiations first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                    Anita Nemhard

 Anita Nemhard, Court Reporter

“This veranda before this actual change right here, man. This da fi we favorite spot, man. He pan one end, I pan the next end, yeah. It’s sad. I was sad.”

Shane Williams

“What made him fit like you for a job that is very difficult?”

Anita Nemhard

“People used to like look pan ah and think this man can’t run and do ih job but if da never me the run through the back da he the run through the front. We used to always say we have to set it up that if I miss he catch and if he catch and I miss, we just shared, we just share our footages or our pictures. We had our issues at times, because sometimes me and him, we work for the same people, but we just had to understand and respect each other’s space. Apart from being the go-getter like we all do inna this field, there was a sweet side to Royo. You have to actually know ah, get fi know ah fi understand.”

Shane Williams

“I know this is not easy. He was like family?”

Anita Nembhard

“Actually Royo grandson is my uncle son soh I hate be the bearer of bad news. So when I heard about it I reached out to everybody that I know, everybody from the media and thing, ’cause actually nobody knew. And I thought that was sad. I’ll always remember no matter what, I’ll always remember Royo. Even when he wasn’t here, he was here. ’cause we always crack up we lee jokes, me, Parks and he. “Gyal Anita you remember when Royo, yeah, he was a real cool dude.”

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Farewell to “Ryo”: Legendary Court Reporter Leaves Lasting Legacy first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Belizeans Split Over New Ruta Maya Finish

Debate over the new La Ruta Maya finish line has jumped off social media and onto the streets of Belize City. Today, we asked residents how they feel about ending the race at the Grand Resort instead of the Belcan Bridge. Vendors worry they’ll lose one of their biggest earning weekends. Longtime fans say the switch chips away at a tradition they’ve honored for decades. Others welcome the change, arguing it could make the finish safer and fairer for paddlers. One thing is clear; however, Belizeans care and they have plenty to say about how this move affects community spirit and livelihoods. Here’s what we heard.

                  Belize City Resident #1

Belize City Resident #1

“People weh really want see the race and done get into it like Cross Country, it turn tradition, people would to go out there, especially the ice man weh shub ih cart and go out there to sell. The small vendors that they call mom and pop. Those are the people that will suffer, because they are looking forward to the day when they can do their special hustle. So, I don’t know what is in it. You have to consult with people that are the organizers.”

                    Belize City Resident #2

Belize City Resident # 2

“One of the main problems is that I watch the race for several years and they often have problems coming into the creek because it is narrow. And some of the athletes they are so close to win, that by the time they fall out the boat, it is an advantage. So if they have the finish line where it is clear then everybody have a fair chance of winning the race. I agree with the change.”

              Belize City Resident #3

Belize City Resident #3

“I nuh really watch that like that. So, at the end of the day, if they want to change it then they can change it. I don’t have the power to change that back. So, I just leave everything and I stress pan things weh I can change you know. Anything I cant change I don’t stress on.”

                Belize City Resident #4

Belize City Resident #4

“I don’t think that is something that should have been done, because that is the route of the Mayans. That is the original route. So, they should not change it you know. This only have ten miles. I cant go up there and come back. It might shut down on me and I can’t come back home. So, I might have to watch it on TV now.”

                Belize City Resident #5

Belize City Resident #5

“Basically I think that the people have the say and the contestants that are in the competition. So I think if they don’t feel pleased about what is happening then they should voice their opinion and do something about it. I don’t really guh watch La Ruta Maya, but the city nuh agree with, so more than likely it’s something they are not please by.”

                  Belize City Resident #6

Belize City Resident #6

“Why they don’t keep on doing it they way they were doing, because all of us already use to watching it at Civic every year. So why will they change it for, why?”

Belize City Resident #7

“Basically they are doing it where they are making money and we poor people nuh wah make none. So they are doing it where they are making money. So it change us from making money and surviving.”

As public reaction grows, the finish‑line dispute has become less about location and more about fairness, tradition, and who the change really serves.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post BCA Warns of Major Action Against Ruta Maya first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Shane Williams

“I don’t know if there’s an update on the meeting that was canceled in terms of the Sara, but this must be frustrating for the union and for you personally as president.”

                      Dean Flowers

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“It’s very frustrating Shane. It’s extremely frustrating. Yesterday right before I entered very important meeting with the IDB I got, I, these calls were coming in unfortunately our visitors from the IDB did not see a calm president. There are terms when I can calm. It is just a reflection of the frustration by the Briceño administration that is hellbent on violating the rights of public officers and that is hellbent on putting public services in private hands. This is their mantra. It started under Fonseca and Musa and it now continues under like I said, Briceño, Coye, Courtenay, because those are the major players in all of this recent statutorization and privatization of public service that is occurring.”

Shane Williams

Is there an update on the cancel meeting for SARA?

Dean Flowers

“As it relates to Sara for date, we have not heard absolutely nothing from the financial secretary. As a matter of fact, I know he absented himself from the IDB MPS meeting yesterday, which focused on modernizing of the public service. I don’t know what he’s hiding from or who he’s fighting from, but at the end of the day, we have to sit around the table and I’m hoping that the. Ministry of Labor. I’m hoping that the labor commissioner will start doing her job. If the labor commissioner was doing her job, that meeting that was canceled would’ve never been canceled because she would’ve been there to, to chair that meeting if the labor commissioner was doing her job.”

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Scrapped Meeting Deepens Rift Between PSU and Government first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                      Dean Flowers

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“If the labor commissioner was doing her job, that meeting that was canceled would’ve never been canceled because she would’ve been there to, to chair that meeting. If the labor commissioner was doing her job these surprises that the tax officers in SARA, or in BTSD are going through, these surprises that took these officers in the Ministry of Transport; she has a duty and an obligation to ensure that workers rights and the Labor Act is respected and followed. Where is the labor commissioner in all of this? She meets with them from what the CEO informed me that they met with the labor commissioner. If they met with the labor commissioner, the Labor Commissioner then has a duty and a responsibility to ensure that they are present when these type of communication are being delivered to the workers. And the labor Commissioner has a duty and an obligation to ensure that the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, communicate with the legal bargaining agent. What then becomes the purpose of the child, prioritized body and the Labor Advisory Board? If the Labor Commissioner will not call employers accountable to follow the law and to respect collective bargaining agreements? And this is what happens when we corrupt and pervert the recruitment processes in public service. This is exactly what happens. People assume offices that they come up that they leave a whole lot to be desired. And then when you hold them accountable and you critique constructively their poor performance, oh, it’s personal, oh, it’s political. Hell no, it’s not. It’s not. It’s holding you accountable. You ask for a job. You are given a job. Do your job, please do your job.”

Flowers says this latest criticism boils down to one message for the Labour Commissioner, step up, enforce the law, and protect the workers who are depending on her.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Union Blasts Labour Chief Over “Unlawful Ultimatums” first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                    Eluide Miller

Eluide Miller, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“My understanding and coming out of the same meeting that we had with MIDH, my understanding is a more permanent fix will be executed to that entire thoroughfare, right? What happened is with the replacement of the BelCan Bridge, the Chetumal – that bridge and the entire boulevard will become extremely important as it will serve as an alternate route, right. And so MIDH recognizes it. Us at the city, we recognize that this boulevard will need to be completely rehabilitated. They have done some work there recently, as you have seen, and we have promoted that work on our page as well and we remain thankful for it. But a more permanent upgrade to that boulevard is necessary and MIDH has committed to executing that work ahead of the replacement of the BelCan Bridge, as it will again serve as an alternate route into and out the city noh.  And so we have received a commitment from MIDH that those works will be done as you have, as we’ve faced some challenges with that especially when we’re faced with inclement weather. But we’re very much happy to hear that are more permanent solution will be executed.”

Miller says the real relief will come once that full rebuild of Lake‑I Boulevard starts, giving drivers a sturdier route before the bridge shutdowns hit.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Major Works Planned For Lake Independence Boulevard first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post CARICOM Leaders Hold High‑Stakes Nevis Caucus first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                     Eluide Miller

Eluide Miller, National Celebrations Commission

“We are absolutely looking forward to the Belize at Forty-five celebrations this year. As it relates to the theme competition, as you highlighted, last week Friday, I believe February twentieth, the call went out for the Belize at Forty-five theme competition for this year. Last year, this competition saw just under four hundred submissions and the winning theme, of course, was “Belize at Forty-four: Stronger Together, Rising Forever.” The commission felt that that really captured the spirit of our nation at that time. And, of course, last year we had two winners who were the co-authors of that submission. And so, this competition is really significant for us. The criteria is very straightforward, submissions must be no more than ten words. So we like a theme or submissions that are extremely concise, straight to the point but really captures the Belizean spirit during the independence season. The other criteria is that each person has only up to three entries. So if you’re making a submission, you can make a submission, but no more than three entries or else your submissions will be disqualified. We are also prohibiting the use of AI this year, and so entries will be tested for an AI score and those who exceed a certain percentage, forty to fifty percent, will be disqualified. Of course, the deadline has been set for early April. April tenth, to be precise, end of the day on April tenth. The price is being increased to two thousand dollars this year, as opposed to one thousand dollars, which it has been for the past couple of years.”

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post New Rules, Bigger Prize as ‘Belize at 45’ Competition Begins first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                     Chester Williams

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“There is no truth to them telling the terminal workers that they must resign by Friday of this week. What was instructed to them and from what I have gathered from them is that they met with the terminal workers, explained to them what is taking place and gave them the options that are available to them. Now remember that the National Bus Company is going to need employees and will need employees at the terminal as well. And so what we want to do is to make sure that we have a transition period between the first of March and the end of August, whereby those persons who are currently employed at the terminal and even those who are employed at the various bus companies that now form part of the National Bus company.  They will be brought on board with the National bus company and they will have that four month period where they can decide if they want to remain with the company or if for some reason they don’t meet the criteria for employment, then we’ll have to find ways for the terminal workers how are we going to settle with them”

Job Uncertainty Shadows National Bus Launch

With the National Bus Company set to launch on March first, the spotlight is shifting from policy to people, and specifically, to the terminal workers now caught in the middle of the transition. Even as government promotes a four‑month rollout plan, employees say they’re only now learning how the change could affect their jobs, raising fresh questions about timing and transparency. That concern has fueled union pushback and heightened public scrutiny, so we asked Transport CEO Chester Williams whether this all feels a little last‑minute for the workers involved. Here’s that exchange.

                 Chester Williams

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“It will not lead to any delay because then remember I said that we have the four months transition period, so the law dictates that we must do it within a month time. We are giving it four months, right? So they’re being informed now and then we have the four months period for them to be able to decide their mind on exactly what they want to do, and then we see how we go from there.”

Reporter

“And having foreseen that this had to be addressed.”

Chester Williams

“I didn’t get you.”

Reporter

“Meaning that this is like last minute. Yes. You say you have that transition period of four months, but I. I believe that for those employees, it would’ve been good to have known about this before.”

Chester Williams

“But Marisol the talk of the national bus company has been in the in the public domain for almost a year now. And again we could not prematurely see exactly what would happen because we had to wait to ensure that we have all the different companies who are going to form part of the National Bus Company sign on to the National Bus Company. We’re just finalizing that between last week and this week where they’re now signing the subscription to Join on to the National Bus Company. So with them signing on now, we are certain in terms of where we’re going. Hence the reason it is now the appropriate time for us to go to the employees and say to them, this is what is going to happen. And again, we are still well within the ambits of the law, which says one month. We’re giving it four months. I believe that we’re on good footing where that is concerned.”

Government Investing $2 Million In Bus Terminals Upgrade

As questions linger over how the National Bus Company rollout will affect terminal workers, the government is now pointing to a major investment aimed at strengthening the very infrastructure those employees help operate. Transport C.E.O. Chester Williams says cabinet has approved two million dollars to overhaul the Belize City terminal and another seven hundred thousand for upgrades already underway in Belmopan, long‑term improvements he argues will raise safety standards and boost government’s equity in the new national system. Here’s how he described the upgrades.

                   Chester Williams

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“Spending two million dollars on the Belize City terminal is not a bandaid fix at all. That is extensive repair and retrofitting. The terminal in Belize City, the current terminal is going to be brought to human standards. That’s the reason why we get that amount of money approved. And with the upgrades in the terminal, that increases the government equity in the National Bus Company because remember, as minister have said, what the government is putting into the company are the terminals across the country. So the fact that we are retrofitting these terminals, the cost for them increases. Likewise in Belmopan, putting in seven hundred thousand dollars into Belmopan terminal is not a bandaid fix either. And I wish you would take a visit to the Belmopan terminal to see the upgrade that has been done in the first half of the terminal and report to the Belizean people the comfort and the luxury that you’ll be seeing when you visit the Belmopan terminal. Come tomorrow and see and see the work that is taking place there. It is totally transformed. Look nice. You enter there you don’t want to leave. It’s comfortable and that’s what we want for the terminals.”

Williams says those multimillion‑dollar upgrades aren’t cosmetic at all, but part of a long‑term push to make bus terminals safer, more comfortable, and a stronger asset within the new national transit system.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Transport Overhaul Leaves Terminal Workers Uneasy first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                     Rafael Dominguez

Those findings triggered the appointment of an interim administrator in 2023 and, eventually, Dominguez’s removal in May 2024. Dominguez challenged the move, calling it disproportionate and procedurally flawed, while also claiming more than eight hundred thousand dollars in severance and contract benefits. But the High Court didn’t buy it. The judge ruled that the Registrar acted within the law, gave Dominguez a fair chance to respond, and provided adequate reasons for letting him go. Most of Dominguez’s compensation claims were thrown out, though the court did say he’s entitled to severance under SFXCU’s internal rules. The Administrator must now recalculate that figure. The Central Bank says the ruling reinforces its mandate to safeguard the credit union sector and assures members that oversight and inspections will continue.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post High Court Backs SFXCU Management Shake-Up first appeared on Greater Belize Media.