On Friday - while you were resting and reflecting on the contributions of National Hero George Price, two dozen Transport Department workers were getting their letters of termination at the Novelo's bus terminal in Belize City.
They called 7News to the scene as they signed off from work angry, confused and kind of clueless about what to do next:
Their uniforms may say Terminal Unit, but these people are no longer employed there. They are a part of the reported 25 Transport Department Workers who were terminated en masse on Friday, George Price Day.
All they could do after they got the news was look towards the terminal, where they spent years of their lives, while standing outside the gates.
There was no use in fighting it, as police were called in to enforce their departure.
We spoke with some of the former employees who vented their frustrations.
Travis Myvett, Former Terminal Janitor
"Well they fired us. They didn't tell us anything, no warning, nothing. They just tell us that we got terminated. They gave us our letter and told us to go home. They didn't give us any reason. They just tell us that we are fired. They call us upstairs for a meeting and they gave us our letter and tell us to go home. We have family to feed."
Alex Flores, Former Assistant Terminal Supervisor
"The letter come nice in an envelope. We dint have ink for our printers for so many months, but yet they could have printed envelope for us."
The workers feel as though they were being politically victimized, even though they claim they voted blue.
Alex Flores, Former Assistant Terminal Supervisor
"We came here for 5:30 in the morning. For 13 years we are on this compound, 4:30am - 2:30pm in the evening use to be our shift. Castro came in and give his employees certain shifts 8am, 10am whatever. We worked with that. Now, Rodwell came in, PUP came in, I respect Johnny, because I grow up around John Briceno, he reiterated that he wasn't going to take away bread from certain Belizeans. We are Belizeans. We have a lot of workers who have bills to pay, kids to feed - like what happened Rodwell - you performing on politics? A lot of these people voted for PUP. What is wrong with you all. If its politics they want to take it, then come on the ground and see what is happening. Look at my hand. I have a blue band. What is wrong with you all."
Travis Myvett, Former Terminal Janitor
"I am not political. I don't worry about politician. I dent worry about colors. I worry about my job that is taking care of me and my family. These people are not understanding that. All of us have family and in this pandemic it's rough. PUP just letting us go."
Jules Vasquez, reporter
"But were you hired by Edmond Castro?"
Travis Myvett, Former Terminal Janitor
"I never got hired by no.... I am right here in the city. I didn't get hired by Castro."
Now, the ex-workers must figure out their next move. As they stood outside the gates, they thought about what they would tell their families and how they would find another job, all while trying to survive a pandemic.
Alex Flores, Former Assistant Terminal Supervisor
"I am good. I could find my little route how to maneuver, but how about some of my co-workers, my gate man, my janitors - how about them? These people doesn't worry about anything."
Travis Myvett, Former Terminal Janitor
"I got fired and I am the breadwinner in the family. These people isn't telling us if we will have a job. Tomorrow I can't come back here. I have to give in my uniform and that's its. Over 6 years I am working here with government. See my termination letter here."
Very notably, they were all open vote workers and they have called on the PSU to come to their defence.
Their letters of termination signed by the CEO in the Ministry for Transport, Marconi Leal says they will be paid their severance and for the years of service, quote, "at the earliest". They told us they haven't gotten anything yet.
