For the past week, the government has been consulting with the so-called social partners on the budget deficit. It's an unprecedented development, because usually the design and outlay of the budget is the exclusive domain of the government's money managers. It's meant to build trust, and, we gather, share the responsibility for what will be a difficult budget. But while the consultation is great for government's PR machine, the unions apparently didn't buy it. They today held a fiery press conference to tell the Musa administration: it is too late to consult, and tomorrow the PM had better come correct, or else.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
With leaders and representatives from 8 unions at the head table, the Trade Union Congress showed a unified front and their message was clear and direct: they're fed up with Belmopan.
Mark Butler, Belize Energy Worker's Union
"Over the past couple of years the workers of this country have observed multiple unprecedented horrendous attacks and injustices taken against workers and citizens of this country by the current elected government. This came in the form of privatization, selling and crediting of the nation's treasures to foreigners and local cronies, and most terrifying is the stealing and gross mismanagement of the Social Security fund for workers. All this was coupled with arrogance and disrespect and a complete ignoring of the workers' pleas of this country. The opinion of the majority of workers is that government has placed us in this mess because of gross misuse and abuse of the country's finances and apparent inability to manage."
Paul Perriot, Belize Communication Worker's Union
"I get the sense that this government is pure lies. Lie on top of lie."
Anthony Fuentes, Belize National Teacher's Union
"The question that all Belizeans are asking, including myself, are what, who, why, and how did we reach this situation. The answer to this question I believe is in the amount of borrowing at high commercial rate, spending and lending to private sector individuals; example Novelo's and Intelco, two companies that have cost the Belizean taxpayer millions of dollars. The calculated risk that the government took to invest our hard-earned taxes did not work. Therefore our government should take full responsibility for the mismanagement of the people's money. The risks did not benefit those at the bottom of the pyramid."
Jackie Willoughby, Public Service Union - Belize City Branch
"The government has disrespected us because we allowed them to. We have allowed them to. I don't know about you, but I am prepared to stop."
Strong, unsparing indictments of the Musa administration, the unions say the position is simple. These union leaders say their membership will not accept any new taxes whether direct or indirect.
George Frazer, NTUCB General Secretary
"We don't want any taxes or anything which will dig into our pocket. That is the bottom line. And we know the business people they already said, whether its direct or indirect, once you touch their cheese it is like you are coming back and charging us, the public out here. So we don't agree with it whether it's direct or indirect."
Mark Butler,
"Workers do not support any new tax measures. Enough is enough. As a consequence of all this, we are now faced with impended rising taxes, senseless borrowing, and higher levels of cost of living. The unions, after all due diligence, are left with no alternative but to issue a loss of confidence call against the government of Belize."
For public servants and teachers, the government's proposals to give a promised increment in three phases over three years is equally unacceptable.
Anthony Fuentes,
"The government has proposed to us that come July 1st we'll be given a percentage of our 8 and 5 salary increase for July and then in December we'll be given the back pay for April, May, and June. The subsequent raise will be spread out April 2006 and April 2007. My brothers and sisters, I must say it's a proposal your union, your union will need to get back and present this proposal to its council of management and our general membership. The business community said we shouldn't get our salary increase and I need to remind the business community that it is the union negotiated for salary increases for public officers and teachers. The raise that we get, we go and buy from them in their store, so we deserve our 8% and 5 % salary increases."
Dylan Reneau, Public Service Union
"And we are basically picketing to enforce our positions that we've stated which I will repeat: we want to demand and insist that the implementation of reform be undertaken, we are not supportive of any new taxes or increases, and we are still insistent on our third payment and we want it all upfront. We do not want it broken down in phases."
And with that militant hardline, the leaders called on workers to join in a peaceful picket outside the National Assembly tomorrow and to step up their resistance both in action and tone.
Dylan Reneau,
"To change this government if they don't conform and do what we say and from what the workers have been saying, this may be a reality if this government does not take heed of what we are saying."
Paul Perriot,
"We Belizeans are punk. All of us are punks because we sit down and we tek and we tek and we tek. You know what? I say this is true but you know what? No more guys, no more. We as workers will not sit down here and take anymore of the abuse. We will not be punks anymore. The workers of BTL and the members of the Belize Communication Workers Union have unanimously decided to take back our beloved Belize by joining hands in solidarity with our brothers in the National Trade Union Congress of Belize to stop the injustices and the raping of our country. We are ready to shut it down guys and we know we can do it. We know as unions we can do it. When we call to shut it down, all of us need to walk off people. Walk off the job and let us do this thing together. We have one chant: no more tax increases, no new taxes. We are asking the government to the find the people who enjoyed the train ride and get to them to get back some of the money they took to bridge this deficit the county is facing."
Jackie Willoughby,
"Its time for public officers, far and near who is in this room and who is not in this room, to get up and stand up for what you believe. Believe me, they can't fire everybody."
George Frazer,
"You hear about tsunami in the pacific, well we will have our tsunami here if things don't come straight."
Paul Perriot,
"Which will it be, evolution or revolution. Get ready guys, get ready!."
Heavy language but is it hard enough to break through into the corridors of power in Belmopan where tonight the decision will be made on what taxes will or won't be increased.
The unions will be offering busses to their memberships tomorrow morning. As we understand it, a number of groups have applied for licenses to demonstrate. One of those is the Opposition which plans to carry a fair amount of supporters itself.
