Tuesday April 19th
Earlier on in the newscast you saw the teachers join the ranks of the BTL employees as they supported their fellow unionists in their actions. That happened this evening, but the show of solidarity began from this morning when students from St. John's College, St. John's Junior College and the University of Belize were the first to rally alongside BTL employees. 7NEWS was there and here's the story.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
The fifth day of intermittent phone service began as normal or at least seemingly so when employees reported to work even if only to just stand around doing nothing. By 9:20 CEO Gaspar Aguilar drove into the compound followed shortly after by PUC Chairman Gilbert Canton. By 9:30 workers began taking their work vehicles and drove out of the compound seemingly to begin their workday. But that short lived and by 10:30 they again began filing back in just as they had left. By 10:45 union leader Christine Perriot came in and began planning the next move. At 11 sharp the fire alarms blared and employees walked out of their offices and onto Princess Margaret Drive simply waiting. It was not long before University of Belize students began to join the gathering followed closely by a procession from St. John's Junior College students. It had then turned into an all out show of solidarity.
Student #1,
"We do believe that BTL the workers have the right to be doing what they're doing and we want to show that we also support."
Student #2,
"Going to support BTL in this strike."
Student #3,
"We just gwen go protest man 'cause we noh really happy with these people check di try tek chance a Belizean people and thing check."
Student #1,
"Its necessary because authorities aren't listening and they need to know that all Belizean citizens including the youths believe that all Belizeans should own BTL."
Student #2,
"Our country is going down and its time for Belizeans to stand up for their rights."
Student #3,
"We dah the future a Belize and thing and we can't di mek dis the happen to fi we country man."
But on this morning solidarity was just a word that needed some action and by 11:30 BTL employees led by Christine Perriot began to move into their compound calling for students to join them.
That show of seeming unity of purpose was short lived however as a squad of Anti-Drug Unit personnel were soon deployed to the gate forcing it shut and allowing no one else to either enter or exit and then the shouting fest began.
It was not long before the defiance of the students was placated with some calls for them to leave and they did in a peaceful yet tense exchange where students were allowed out and BTL employees were allowed in.
By mid-day BTL employees were inside and students were outside while ADU personnel manned the gates. And as the students stood on Princess Margaret Drive they asked for audible support from passersby who honked their horns and showed as best they could that they were in support. It was an impressive show of solidarity and one that BTL workers are surely appreciative of.
Christine Perriot,
"As we have been saying this is not only employees, this has become a national thing, this is for the country of Belize."
And we end with that tonight, clearly the BTL staffers gaining moral support in pockets but at this time no formal, declared industrial support from sister utilities or major workers' unions. The national telephone system remains in a near complete shutdown with a large number of land lines failing this morning. Talks between the unions and government have, for the time being, broken down and there is no announcement of when they will start again. BTL technicians are working to repair cuts in the fiber optic line but there is no indication when that process will finish and union leaders says it could take some time.
