BCWJ Taking Protest to Southside Meat Shop

The battle over severance at Belize Telemedia has now turned personal, at least for the workers who say they’ve waited long enough. The Belize Communication Workers for Justice is ramping up its pressure campaign, and this Friday they plan to take their fight straight to the doorstep of the man they believe is standing in their way. Members say board chairman Markhelm Lizarraga has ignored a court ruling and denied them the payments they’re owed, and if he won’t feel their loss, they intend to make sure he feels their presence. Their demonstration is headed for Southside Meat Shop, Lizarraga’s own business, in what the group calls a necessary escalation. Organizer Emily Turner explains why they’re taking the protest directly to him.

                       Emily Turner

Emily Turner, Organizer, Belize Communication Workers for Justice.

“We have received our mandate late last night from our members and that mandate is for us to take back to the street and this time we will be going to Southside meats on Albert Street West.”

Shane Williams

“Why Southside Meats?”

Emily Turner

“Well, we believe, we feel and it’s a large consensus from the group that the Chairman is behaving personal with us about paying our severance, our interest. What is due to us and we must make it personal right back at him for this behaviour that he is exercising.”

Shane Williams

“Last time we spoke it seems that we had reached a solution, a settlement. How did we get back here?”

Emily Turner

“Okay so, in good faith we received a letter from BTL saying the board had approved severance so we attended a first meeting where they presented that the board was sticking to a position that these people were not entitled to the severance. We said, you know what, we will take that, accept it and we will still ask them to consider the interest rate because what was being presented to us was a package with only the severance. We then received a subsequent letter that brought us to the table on Monday at two p.m. and in that meeting, following suit with their letter, they again began that meeting by stating that they are gonna remain noncompliant with the CCJ’s ruling and not accept that all of us, the people beyond six years are supposed to get their severance payment. And so we gave them an offer in good faith, which they could not meet. And we said, well this is where the negotiations will have to end and this is where it had broken down.”

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 Labour Dept Moves to Clarify CCJ Severance Ruling first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Today marked the fourth protest by the Belize Communications Workers for Justice (BCWJ) outside BTL’s headquarters, as former staff continued to demand payment of severance they believe is owed.

Among them is Leticia Reyes, who worked at BTL for 26 years as a telephone operator and later in customer service. Facing serious medical challenges, she says her appeals to the company for help went unanswered. 

Over the years, she has undergone a gastric bypass, two heart surgeries, and suffered two strokes that now affect her speech and memory. “There’s a lot of us out here with health issues, like myself. I want them to consider us and to pay our severance,” Reyes said.

Another former employee, Patricia Bradley, spent 17 and a half years at BTL, working in customer service, sales support, and later at the call centre. Bradley says the long shifts and sacrifices made by staff helped build the company, often at the expense of family life. “Give us what we are due. We worked, sweat, toil, years, tears, pain. Just give us because it’s the law,” Bradley said.

Despite her frustrations, she acknowledged the opportunities BTL once offered, saying, “It’s a good place…an opportunity to grow and learn things.” She now runs a caregiving business and says severance would allow her to expand into food services.

BTL, in a statement, said that 98% of workers who filed claims under the Caribbean Court of Justice ruling have already been paid. The company noted that the CCJ ruling applied to claims not exceeding a six-year period.

Workers represented by BCWJ at today’s protest fall outside that ruling, as their claims exceed the six-year limit set by the court.

The post Pay Our Severance: “We Worked, Sweat, Toil” first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

On the Phone: Lee Mark Chang, Mesopotamia Area Representative

“If I need to pay the bond, I will take full responsibility for it because we were out there. We were peacefully demonstrating. If that’s what they wanna do in terms of threatening us as citizens of Belize, that they’re gonna charge us for our rights to demonstrate, then you know what, so be it. Like when the protest started from very early on, I spoke with Mr. Reyes and I told him, man you guys the make fi unu right unu wrong. Unu cannot trample upon a person’s constitutional rights. The lockdown man for what? Being a member of a gang? Then after that, then they flip flop. Man, they bally can get their own story straight weh they ker the man in for. But it’s the government and they’re in power and they will say what they want, what they wanna say. So what can we do as citizens? We can demonstrate. We can let them know of our unhappiness towards what they’re doing, but if they want to continue send threats then you know what, then we’ll probably have to take them to court or something.”

Shane Williams

“This would be a deterrent for regular Belizeans to protest and demonstrate which is their right. So do you find that you probably have a responsibility to fight against such threats from the police even though you may be able to pay the bond?”

Lee Mark Chang

“Firstly, the police think they the do we a favor. They noh di do we no favor. We as Belizean citizens, we have a right to demonstrate. We have a right to let the government know what we like and what we do not like. That’s why we live in a free country. So if they wanna continue down this road ya then something will have to give mi bally. And I’ll tell you, the voices of the people is the loudest.”

And as the back‑and‑forth continues, Chang vows to stand his ground in court if it comes to that, saying the real question now is how far authorities will push Belizeans’ right to protest.

The post Lee Mark Chang Defends UDP Protest Amid Police Warning first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                          Sheena Pitts

Sheena Pitts, UDP Senator

“You have the police exercise unfettered discretion to say oh you don’t qualify for permit today. You think it done? Look at what happened on the morning of our last protest, while gathering placards to take out to our point of protest, Brian “Yellowman” Audinett was arrested and on the paper given to him they write BMOG, that is an acronym, words which stands for being the member of a gang. And I have the fortunate advantage of saying I know Yellowman all my life and I will not put my head on a block and get it chop off and I can say with absolute certainty at no time Yellowman has ever been a member of a gang. Yellowman is a political affiliate. He belong to the same party I belong. What did the police department suggest by doing that? And this is not one of those situations where those who have the upper hand get to use terms and box us in those terms. And tell us when we fight for what is right, we are violent, we are gang members. Well Mr. police commissioner, please let your first order of business go to arrest the prime minister as the head of the  PUP gang. Let your first order of business go in the north and round up all the minister of the northern caucus and hold them for the forty eight and figure out how you want to charge them since we could play with people’s rights.”

The post UDP Slams Police as Yellowman’s Detention Dispute Grows first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“The violation of the agreed upon bond condition for the protests is unfortunate and they may be legal consequences for the organizers.”

Reporter

“And that means that it’s ten thousand dollars bond, right?”

Dr. Richard Rosado

“The permit stipulates the bond that was agreed upon by both sides. By the party.”

Reporter

“So does the penalty stipulate that they would have to give up that bond?”

Dr. Richard Rosado

“Like I mentioned it was unfortunate that they violated the agreed upon conditions of the bond to protest and there will be, there may be legal consequences for the organizers. Like I mentioned before, it was unfortunate that the United Democratic Party decided to breach the agreed condition of the permit and it may have legal consequences. Our decision that day was based, was a professional decision to ensure that we have a peaceful outcome rather than escalate to a more catastrophic use of force.”

The post Compol Rosado Warns of Consequences for UDP Protest first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Shane Williams, Reporting

In the days leading up to today’s sitting of the House, a protest seemed all but certain. The Opposition and joint unions had been signaling another public demonstration, and many expected it to play out this morning on the steps of the National Assembly. But just minutes before the ten o’clock start time, the script changed. The United Democratic Party issued a late release announcing it would boycott the sitting altogether, calling the move round three of its ongoing protest strategy. The release states: “We refuse to sit and participate in a Parliament that is being turned into a rubber stamp for a deal designed to enrich a Briceno family while saddling Belizeans with millions of dollars in debt. This boycott is not political theatre: It is an act of conscience and common sense; It is an act of resistance and reasonable resolve to strip the deal of any credibility; and, it is an act of duty to the people and country of Belize.”

And soon after, the Commissioner of Police confirmed that the unions had also pulled back, cancelling their plans to demonstrate.

                       Richard Rosado

Dr. Richard Rosado, Commissioner of Police

“We did receive two application: one from the NTUCB and one from the PUP. The one from the NTUCB, they decided to cancel their application for today protest. No application was received from the Opposition.”

What followed was not confrontation but celebration. With drums beating and supporters dancing, dozens of PUP supporters gathered outside the National Assembly, creating a rally-like atmosphere, even as the purpose of the crowd remained unclear.

                     Collet Montejo

Collet Montejo, Secretary General, PUP

“Basically what happened here today was we had intended to have our, some of our supporters come out and to fill the galleries. But as the word went out, a number of area representatives said, man, our people wanna come out and support. So we couldn’t stop them. We couldn’t stop them.”

Montejo says the gathering was meant to show general support for party leaders and to mark the opening of the new National Assembly building, the first House sitting open to the public since the PUP’s election victory in November 2020. Party Chairman Henry Charles Usher offered another explanation, that supporters came out to back the passage of the Occupational Health and Safety Bill.

               Henry Charles Usher

Henry Charles Usher, Party Chairman, PUP

“They are here to support the OSH Bill. It is a very important bill that will be introduced in the House today. It is a historic piece of legislation. It is a shame that the Opposition is not here to support this bill.”

Paul Lopez

“Yes, they had placards and they seem to have done away with the placards. Was that at the request of you all to not get the BTL issue involved?”

Henry Charles Usher

“They are here to support the OSH Bill. I welcome them. I’m happy to see them. I’m always happy to see my party supporters.”

But Toledo West Area Representative Oscar Requena said the gathering wasn’t about politics, adding that people simply wanted to be part of the House sitting.

              Oscar Requena

Oscar Requena, Area Representative, Toledo West

“We invited them so that they can come and have the experience of witnessing the opening of the newly renovated parliament.”

Paul Lopez

“How concern are you about the political image that this will send? Some people will interpret this as the PUP supporting the acquisition.”

Oscar Requena

“No, absolutely not. I already explained why they’re here.”

But the largest turnout came from Pickstock. And street captain Shaheed Hauze, who said his division alone brought out about one hundred supporters, explained they were there for one main reason, to show support for BTL’s acquisition of Speednet.

                  Shaheed Hauze

Shaheed Hauze, Street Captain, PUP Pickstock 

“I don’t see why they hustling and bustling about this acquisition. On a personal note, I support it a hundred percent and I believe it’s good because at the end of the day, it wa benefit us, the people you know, and I see it as something that we are moving forward and I see as something beneficial. I’m a leader and I bring out one hundred and ten people today. And they support it and they’re not people weh can’t think for themselves, da people weh think for themself and people weh know weh di happen.”

Shane Williams

“How yo the enjoy the rally earlier?”

Shaheed Hauze

“We mi expect – we noh come fight you know – we mi expect the UDP mi wa deh out ya today but it’s nice to see the People’s United Party Supporters and wa get some drumming in the next hour and a half.”

Shane Williams

“And if the UDP supporters mi de out ya, weh mi wa happen?”

Shaheed Hauze

“No, we noh come fight or nothing. We make it clear to our people that we are civilized people and we come and cheer on the government. And we come and support the decision that the government are doing. And we noh come fight with nobody. We are one democracy, one country and move forward.”

Two hundred people, mixed messages, no protest. The Opposition stayed away, the unions stepped back, but both are expected to stage separate protests next week. Shane Williams for News Five.

The post PUP Responds to Protest with National Assembly Rally first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                        Emily Turner

Emily Turner, Organizer, Belize Communication Workers for Justice

“You guys remember we had said that we had gotten six days approved. On Monday after we finished protesting, the police department told us that we must come to the Raccoon Street police station. When we arrived there, they shared with us a cancel order, I guess you would call it, where they canceled our, they canceled, they denied us this freedom that we have to protest, right? They denied it for Tuesday and Wednesday, and that’s why you didn’t see us out here. And so what they did inform us is that they gave us Thursday, and they said if we wanted Friday we can apply. Well we applied again on Tuesday, giving them enough, giving them forty-eight hours that is required by the law. Yesterday they informed us that is also denied. They’re denying that from us as well. So we have today, yesterday, we appeal it to the Commissioner of Police because we are saying you cannot take away this right from us. You have to tell us why. The president of the NTUCB was extremely upset because of the actions of the UDP.”

Reporter

Do you also distance yourself from their actions yesterday?”

Emily Turner

“Yes. Yes, definitely.  I will say this, the unions are a peaceful group. We’ve always been a peaceful group and we will maintain that. The UDP, that’s their behavior.”

BCWJ organizers say their protest over unpaid severance is now also about protecting the right to demonstrate, as they’ve appealed to the Commissioner of Police after approvals were reduced and further requests denied.

The post Workers’ Severance Fight Now Also About Protest Rights first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                    Sheena Pitts

Sheena Pitts, Chairman, United Democratic Party

“This idea that the UDP as an independent entity is meeting of the minds with the union, I don’t know that has happened. And so if the union chooses to operate in a particular kind of way, it is their prerogative to do that. But certainly when it comes to the United Democratic Party, we are ensuring that we do exactly as we were mandated to do and that’s what we did. So I can’t, I really can’t speak to that. I know nothing of that. And if the union decide, the unions decide that they want to protest and stay far across the street somewhere else, they’re free to do that. It’s great when we’re all together, shoulder to shoulder fighting together the same issue ’cause it’s a common cause. This is for all Belizean, for me to entertain the splitting of the hairs that way, I don’t know that is where I am because this BTL-Smart issue is a national issue. And what is concerning is not about what I am saying or what the President of the BNTU is saying.  What is concerning is that at this point where we are, we still have a Prime Minister who, in his criminal organization, in his gang by the police department, gone and form another small gang in the form of the northern caucus, da the northern caucus gang -and they politicized this deal. Weh I noh hear da anybody the focus on the fact that the public has sound the alarm against this deal, and they the move like juggernaut through a wall. That is what should be, remain in focus.”

Pitts says the UDP acted on its own during Wednesday’s protest and maintains that, despite the criticism, the real issue for Belizeans should remain the proposed BTL‑Speednet deal, which she calls a national concern.

The post UDP Chair To NTUCB: “No Time for Splitting Hairs”   first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

The group says at least 175 former BTL employees remain unpaid, although the company has reportedly settled with about 70 others. BCWJ representative Emily Turner said the number of affected workers continues to grow as more former employees come forward.

“We had maybe 200, but then the list keeps growing. A lot of employees are contacting us,” Turner said.

Turner explained that BTL stopped paying severance in 1994, during the period when the company operated as a monopoly. In 2025, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruled that pensions cannot substitute severance, which is considered a “social justice clause” under Belize’s labour law.

She noted that pensions are funded jointly by employees and the company, while severance must be paid solely by the employer. Severance, she said, is meant to cushion workers after retirement, particularly older employees who are no longer easily employable.

BCWJ members have been staging peaceful demonstrations outside BTL, but Turner said police denied permits for several protest days, prompting the group to appeal to the Commissioner of Police.

The group is also raising concerns about BTL’s proposed acquisition of Speednet (SMART), questioning how the company can consider an $80 to $100 million purchase while severance obligations remain unresolved.

“We will not go away,” Turner said. “We are here for workers.”

The post Former BTL Employees Say 175 Still Await Severance Pay first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Shane Williams Reporting…

Opposition Leader Tracy Panton says the pressure is only ramping up, as the UDP pushes the Briceño administration and BTL to abandon the eighty‑million‑dollar Speednet deal. Today marked “round two” of a planned wave of protests, with supporters turning out at the Social Security Board headquarters. For an opposition fighting to stay relevant, the optics were strong, though somewhat blunted by the board’s decision to move its meeting to Belmopan.

Shane Williams

“Tell us what is the plan now that the board meeting has been moved to Belmopan?”

                       Tracy Panton

Tracy Panton, Leader of the Opposition

“Don’t worry, they’re hearing us in Belmopan. The point is the SSB board must hear the voices of the people. Our people don’t get a chance to opt out of paying their social security contributions monthly. And so it is our attempt to get the board members to hear from the people whose money they wish to use for private gains.”

Shane Williams

“You’ve dubbed this round two. This is round two. Are you impressed by the showing so far out here? Stay with us for the rest of the day so you can see  what round two looks like.”

Round two was meant to stay on St. Joseph Street after authorities denied permission to protest directly in front of the Social Security Building, which sits beside the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, a designated quiet zone. But as protests often do, this one began in defiance of its approved permit. The authorization, issued to the UDP under Mesopotamia Area Representative Lee Mark Chang, was breached even before the official ten a.m. start time, prompting a warning from Senior Superintendent Reymundo Reyes.

                    Lee Mark Chang

Lee Mark Chang, Mesopotamia Representative

“Don’t do that. Alright, don’t do that. You cannot do those things. I tell my people don’t do that. Now I tell unu don’t do that. Don’t suppress wa demonstration. We don’t want violence. All we want to do is demonstrate and make the government know, open the books. We do not want this deal. Noh tek wi fi kunu munu. Stop the spend fi we money like da fi unu own money. That is not right.”

Reymundo Reyes, Senior Superintendent.

“At nine-forty-four, you are being informed of the breach of the permit because you’re obstructing the flow of traffic.”

Lee Mark Chang

“Officer if you want I pay it now I wa pay it now officer.”

Definitely a different side of Lee Mark Chang from the peacemaker we saw in front of BTL’s headquarters last week. His anger stemmed from learning that police had detained his campaign general and Mesopotamia ground commander, Brian “Yellowman” Audinette, moments before the protest, in what many viewed as a preemptive effort to neutralize a key party agitator.

Lee Mark Chang

“Do not stifle our voices, right. We have a right to be heard. We have a right to demonstrate. No violence and Im not asking for violence but when yo goh lock down wa man pan nada, pan trumped up charge, now that da foolishness.”

Detaining Audinett appeared to have the opposite effect police intended. It added fuel to the UDP’s fire and the demand for his release morphed into a rally cry.

Shane Williams

“What’s the status of Yellowman?”

Tracy Panton

“New low for the Briceño administration, a new low. He has been detained for gang affiliation.  Now everybody knows in this country that the only organized group that Yellowman is a part of is the United Democratic Party, and so I hope it is not the intention of this Briceno administration to suggest that the UDP is a gang because we’ll have a real problem.”

And despite losing one of its generals to a police detention, the UDP moved forward with fresh momentum, bolstered by wide national backing and a rare sighting of Hugo Patt, who came out of Corozal North to march with his party leader.

                         Hugo Patt

Hugo Patt, Corozal North Representative

“We had to show support to our party but more importantly to the people of this country who are voicing their opinions about the potential acquisition by BTL of Speednet. And I believe it is time now for us to stand up against what’s happening with this government.”

Shane Williams

“What are your people saying in Corozal about the proposed consolidation?”

Hugo Patt

“First of all, there is no transparency. There are more questions than answers and everything seems to be happening in secrecy.”

Unlike the scene in front of BTL’s headquarters, UDP candidates from across the country showed up for this demonstration, perhaps all sensing the vulnerability of the administration on this issue and no doubt seeking to pounce on the political opportunity that’s been presented. Few joined the push against the police cordon, but the message was unified.

                      Godwin Haylock

Godwin Haylock, Queen Square Representative

“It’s a national issue. One that Belizeans need to be aware that they are not getting value for money. That’s the most important thing in this deal, not value for money.”

                          Gabriel Zetina

Gabriel Zetina, UDP Senator

“I mean this is beyond political. I know a lot of people will try to label this as PUP trying to buy Smart and the UDP opposing it for opposing sake but that is not the case. We all understand the importance of what it would be like if we shift out away from competition  to a monopoly and that is what the Belizean people and not only the independent senators and ourselves but many other sectors within Belize, they are saying no to this. And I cannot understand why this government, especially the Prime Minister continues to push it.”

                   Patrick Faber

Patrick Faber, UDP Senator

“We have come to send a signal to the Social Security Board today who has major stakes in BTL and who operates with the people’s money and with the people’s mandate. That should never happen. They should send a message to the rest of BTL and the Prime Minister, this acquisition stinks to hell and we need to get rid of it. and that the UDP will not relent and our social partners are not relenting.”

                          Khalid Belisle

Khalid Belisle, Belmopan UDP Standard Bearer

“I think it was vital that we came and lend our support to the unions in their push to force the government to listen to the will of the people. Everywhere you go, you know, and you discuss this issue, the vast majority aren’t content with proceeding with this at this point in time. We don’t have enough information.”

There were several attempts to push past the police line, but tensions largely stayed in check, with restraint on both sides avoiding a full confrontation. After delivering their message to the SSB board, the UDP shifted focus to freeing “Yellowman.” Led by Tracy Panton, protesters moved up Princess Margaret Drive and onto Belcan Bridge, blocking traffic and vowing not to leave until he was released. When police didn’t respond, plans were made to shut down the Flag Monument roundabout during the lunch‑hour rush; but just then, word came that Yellowman was free. Skeptical of police assurances, protesters held the bridge until he arrived. Minutes later, he emerged from a taxi as a hero to the crowd, now a symbol of the UDP’s defiance. Shane Williams for News Five.

The post Heavy Police Watch as UDP Protests SSB first appeared on Greater Belize Media.