NTUCB says its Black Friday action is still on despite Cabinet’s decision 

Earlier today, hours before Cabinet announced its position, Love News spoke with NTUCB President Ella Waight about a series of actions being organised by opponents of the proposed acquisition.  Waight explained that the first step was being dubbed “Black Friday,” with Belizeans opposed to the acquisition being encouraged to wear black tomorrow and publicly demonstrate their position. 

Ella Waight, President, NTUCB: “That will be done tomorrow, Friday. We are calling it #BlackOutBTL. We’re asking workers, we’re asking employers, we’re asking students, we’re asking every Belizean to wear black tomorrow, take a picture and upload it in the social media with the #BlackOutBTL. And to speak out, to speak out as to why you are not in favor of the proposed acquisition. And then, of course, that we call that phase one. We’re hoping with just that one soft agitation we would have some final firm response from the government as to not continuing with the acquisition. But if not, we do have schedule phase two, which is a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday 18 August from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The only thing with the demonstration is that we’re going to be having it in two locations. One in Belize City, in front of the BTL headquarters and we stress in the word peaceful demonstration. And one in Belmopan in front of the admin building and we’re asking, we’re encouraging Belizeans those coming from Corazal, Orange Walk, San Pedro, and those in Belize City to remain in Belize City or to come to Belize City and protest in front of the BTL headquarters.” 

NTUCB’s Black Friday was not intended to be the end of the campaign. When Love News spoke with Waight earlier today, she said the NTUCB and its partners were also preparing to take their opposition to the streets.  Plans were being made for simultaneous demonstrations in Belize City and Belmopan on Tuesday

Ella Waight, President, NTUCB: “We were invited to a cabinet meeting, the NTUCB and BCCI, today Thursday in Belmopan. However, our BCCI partner, they are out of the country and they indicated that much to the cabinet secretary that they would not be able to meet today but would be able to meet Monday or Tuesday. We did not get a positive response to that suggestion to postpone the meeting to next week. We, and by that time, we would have attended, BCCI and NTUCB, but at the same time the social partners were making this united front when it comes to any part of this issue with the acquisition. So at that same time we had signed a document saying we would only attend meetings as a block. Therefore, BNN and the evangelical churches entity were not invited to that meeting. So we decided as a group not to attend the meeting any at all, but again, we did not get in the confirmation of a postponement of the meeting.”

The plans to protest were made before Cabinet’s announcement.  Just before news time tonight, Love News contacted Waight who confirmed that tomorrow’s action remains in place, and that the union is still in consultation with affiliates and legal advisers regarding the demonstration