The leaders of the National Trade Union Congress met this afternoon into evening in Belize City to consider their options as they continue to carry out their plan of action to protest against government's new taxes. Speaking with Keith Swift when that meeting finished just before 6:00 pm, council member Zenaida Moya told us they will strike but must first get on with raising public awareness countrywide.
Jackie Willoughby,
"Well we are still planning to move forward with our protest. As it is we are starting tonight with our public meetings. As we've previously said, the first one will be in Orange Walk. I think we should be doing the other one in Belmopan or Cayo tomorrow night. So yes the protest is still definitely on."
Keith Swift,
For some people this might be too slow. Some of the hardliners might be calling for immediate strike action. Why are you doing it this way?
Zenaida Moya,
"Because we feel it is necessary to get the views of everybody that we can. Yes we have heard a lot from many of the people, many of our partners, and many of the public that we are going too slow but I think slowly is how we will get momentum and we will get the support of every individual that we feel should and are being affected by the taxes. So I think its something positive and as we go through and visit with all the different districts, definitely we will hear their views that's the most important thing right now."
Jackie Willoughby,
"Let me add to that. The thing is we are talking about the taxes and if you really look at it people won't or shouldn't start feeling the taxes until probably maybe this week or early into next week. So we want people to understand the purpose that they are coming out for and its strictly for the taxes, for the moment."
Keith Swift,
Are you still talking to government or have you given up on that?
Zenaida Moya,
"The only thing we are discussing with government right now is our nominees for the Commission of Inquiry. We have to agree on our nominee. We have heard informally, we haven't gotten it in writing, that it seems we can agree on that individual; the mutually agreed upon person. But it has to be finalized as to the other two reps, both their rep. and our representative. That is the only thing we are speaking on at this moment."
Keith Swift,
Jackie we understand the PSU has voted to go on a go-slow and work to rule. Can you confirm that?
Jackie Willoughby,
"The General Council has agreed that there's going to be a go-slow and a work to rule. As to the date that we will put it in, I can't say at this time. But its not in effect as yet."
Keith Swift,
Will this eventually snowball into a strike? Is this what you are gearing up or do you hope government will buckle before it comes to that?
Zenaida Moya,
"As we keep saying, government knows what we are doing. We have been informing on public radio and television that we will be meeting with the people and getting their views. We have informed that the NTUC will be exercising its right to protest. We have informed them publicly of all of these things. Therefore it still can be said that the government has time and they can go ahead and speak to the TUC in the area of repealing those tax measures that they have informed us that they will institute. But as we speak, we are gearing up to a public strike. This isn't about the worker's anymore, clearly this is about the people of Belize, this is about the working poor, this is about those people that definitely will be affected. So yes it will snowball into that."
The NTUCB plans to carry out awareness raising sessions countrywide.
