BTL is the richest company in Belize, with majority ownership by a British billionaire, so we don't need to tell you that they can afford the best attorneys, by the battalion, if necessary. So with all that, who dares take BTL to court? Well Christine Perriot did, and today she won, even if it's only an interim declaration.
She was terminated on February 27th, and this week her attorney Lois Young Barrow argued to Supreme Court Justice John Muria that it was a wrongful dismissal. After a hearing on Monday, this morning Muria gave an interim order reinstating Christine Perriot as a technician in the internet department, retroactive to February 28th. We stress that it's an interim order and only holds until the full case is heard and adjudged.
But interim or not, it's a very major victory and vindication, and today Christine Perriot and her attorney were emotional after the dramatic ruling. This was the scene outside Justice Muria's courtroom.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
Christine what are your feelings right now?
Christine Perriot, Reinstated
"Jules I really, I don't know, I just have to thank God. Today my word from God was that God would make a way and he did make a way against all odds. I don't know how to explain, I don't know...let me get myself together."
Kalila Enriquez, KREM Radio
"So you'll be back at work on Tuesday?
Christine Perriot,
"I guess that is the date when I go back because it says it takes effect February 28th so I am going to have a good resurrection day. I am going to thank my Lord and back at work as usual."
Jules Vasquez,
Do you feel you'll be reentering a hostile situation?
Christine Perriot,
"No Jules, this is something I have to let the public know: I am a woman working in a so called dominant man's working place and ever since I ventured into the education of going in that way and working in the field from day one, I have always struggled to always prove myself. Like the saying says, you work twice as hard just to be considered half as good."
Jules Vasquez,
So Christine supposed you are placed on leave effective Tuesday with no additional pay because you were paid February 27th for four months?
Christine Perriot,
"Jules I have not been paid my salary. What they gave me was what is due to me, what they say is due to me, by the law, my holiday and notice. I haven't gotten any salary. As a matter of fact they haven't fully paid me everything so they can't say they have paid me my salary. If they want to put me on extended holiday with my salary pay well that's good too. I will welcome that."
Jules Vasquez,
They could choose to fire you again. Would you address both of those scenarios that could unfold?
Christine Perriot,
"Jules I was fired from BTL as a trade unionist, not because of my performance at BTL otherwise they would have done so a long time ago."
Kalila Enriquez,
"And what if they decide to take you back as per ordered by the court and then fire you the right way?"
Christine Perriot,
"They will have to do some real digging to fire me the right way because to fire me the right way would mean that you would have to make sure I perform a 1 in my appraisal which is incomprehensible on my behalf. I am 4.4 performer, 1 is for a vegetable."
Marion Ali, LOVE News
"You've been away for over a month, what's the first thing you want to do when you return?"
Christine Perriot,
"I really don't know yet. I guess when I go back I will see. I don't know. I am not sure yet. I am excited at the same time, I am happy, I want to see my family, I want to go thank the Lord, I want to thank everybody."
And…not to rain on the parade, but as we alluded to in the interview, BTL's response has been as expected: Christine Perriot will not be entering any BTL building anytime soon. BTL's Manager of Business Development, Marketing and Public Relations Karen Bevans says that while BTL doesn't agree with the judgement, they will respect it. But that doesn't mean they have to welcome Perriot back.
Bevans confirmed that Christine has been placed on special paid leave, effective immediately. An employees bulletin issued this afternoon says, "Christine Perriot will not…..be required to attend the company's offices for work…..if she does, she will not be permitted to enter the premises." BTL's position is that Perriot was given 25 weeks salary when she was terminated, and so they won't pay her anything more. At least not until those 25 weeks are up - assuming the court has not made a judgment by then.
