And on Saturday, a constellation of unions did their best to issue a body blow to go with that black eye. It was called the March for Health, organized by the Belize Medical and Dental Union to resist the takeover of Universal Health Service. Here's how it went.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
At 9:30 on Saturday morning the demonstration got off to a slow start with disorganized participants simply waiting for the march to start. When it did it was modestly sized. For the BMDU's Dr. John Sosa it was good enough.
Dr. John Sosa, BMDU
"I was expecting around two hundred people. I think we have better support than I expected."
Nurse Blake,
"I am good tot see to see that my nurses are out here supporting us because nurses as professionals need to be consulted when it comes to government decisions concerning the healthcare system in Belize. I am good that the nurses came, we have nurses from Orange Walk, we have nurses from Belmopan, we have nurses from Corozal. They are supporting us, they know what we are going through in the regional hospitals, and they know the situation at the KHMH. Enough is enough."
And that's the message that Elena Smith the President of the Belize City branch of the Teacher's Union is sending. She says that the number of people saying the message is really not the issue.
Elena Smith, BNTU
"As long as the message is strong and clear it will be sent. It can be one person, two person, the message will be sent. See what we have here is not what we expected but it is what we are going to work with and we believe that whatever we have here, will be enough to send a strong message that we have had enough and we want changes in our healthcare system.
We have a lot of teachers out here. A lot of us are out here so I have what I expected, it could have been more, but what I expected is good enough for me. You have teachers from Cayo as well and Belmopan who are here as well."
Alfonso Noble,
Do you think this is going to send a clear message? Obviously it is not a crowd of ten thousand.
Dr. John Sosa,
"It is the type of people who are out here. I think when doctors and nurses march through the streets we have to listen because we provide a very basic service, healthcare and I think people will listen to us."
And on this Saturday those demonstrating weren't only doctors and the nurses. In fact, many who aren't ordinarily involved in public protests came out. People like attorney Michael Young, Senator Godwin Hulse and Dr. Arleigh Gough.
Michael Young,
"It has reached the point where people are saying enough is enough and I am out here to stand and march in solidarity with those who've been victimized and it is time for people to understand that the only way for us, the people of Belize, to rescue Belize from this situation is to stand firm and strong and for everybody to become energized against this unbelievable history of secret deals, corruption, and mis -manipulation of the people's funds. Belizeans are fundamentally a quite people and if only a hundred and twenty people march, that doesn't necessarily reflect that the people on a whole and at large are not totally disenchanted and if you notice there are those out here who are marching who do not traditionally march. This is truly a reflection of the degree of concern and the degree indeed of disgust which is affecting the people. So I have no doubt that however small, however large, this demonstration is, it reflects the sentiments of the great majority of the people of Belize."
Senator Godwin Hulse,
"I never march Fonso. The last time I marched was 'no to Guatemala' when I was attempting to make sure that we would have a country that we ruled and controlled and today I think it is important to march because I think we need to say to the people of this nation it is time to take charge of your country. I will never participate in anything that doesn't make a difference. This will make a difference. The bottom line is it is time for the people of this country recognize that the management and the ownership of this country is in our hands and we have to get our people to understand that, to believe that, to know that and that the people we send to Belmopan are there to administrate our resources on our behalf, not in their own right and not for their friends and they are not there to rule us. The era of government-subject must come to an end and a new era of government citizen must be ushered in. The government must be given clear directions and precise demands must be made of them, demands that the people can stand behind that are just honest and right and that is where the difference will be made."
Dr. Arleigh Gough,
"I am concerned about health, I am concerned about how this will affect the health system. I am concerned about everything that is happening but that is my primary interest."
Alfonso Noble,
Do you think this will make a difference?
Dr. Arleigh Gough,
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't think so."
And while Gough and others would not be in the march if they didn't think that it would make a difference, it does beg the question: how many make the difference between purposeful protest and just hard talk in the streets?
Dylan Reneau on Horn: What happened to the money at DFC?
Crowd: I don't recall.
To be sure, the anti-government sentiment was high, but with only 500 - plus participating, to those in the ruling party that's not enough to threaten their elected mandate. But why were the number disappointing? Paul Perriot says that cold start agitation on a cold day, conspired to put a chill on a hot and pressing issues.
Paul Perriot, BCWU President
"The engine is cold but we will get it warmed up at the end of the day. This is process that Belizeans need to get adopted to. I believe that the last time around people did not see the unions or the public support and they thought that maybe there was a let down but we believe that this is the beginning again so we are calling on all Belizeans to support these kinds of actions because that is the only way we can get the Ministers in government to realize that the people are serious."
And if indeed they are, this small protest would show that the unions are once again beginning their march towards mass social agitation and, possibly, unrest. The test now is to see if the militant spirit in this modest march can catch on and make believers out of those who stayed in bed for this one, but if they can't generate mass disapproval of the Musa administration, the conventional wisdom is that the PUP will proceed with the Universal takeover and not intervene in the Communication Workers labour dispute.
The unions have indicated that they will continues to organize activities to keep the pressure on government. But while this happens, according to the Ministry of Health timeline, the Universal takeover should be underway, as the new government appointed board was scheduled to take over the management and assessment of Universal starting today.
