7NEWS has received credible reports which say that government is planning to finalize the sale of its remaining 37% holding in BTL to a Michael Ashcroft company this week. But that won't happen if the employees get their way. As we reported on Friday, the BTL union has asked the Supreme Court for an injunction barring the transfer of any BTL shares. A date for that hearing has been set for Monday and Union President Paul Perriot says any sale by government would be an illegal transfer.
Paul Perriot, BCWU President
"At the House sitting on Friday, Prime Minister will table the closure of a behind the scenes deal with Michael Ashcroft. But let me mention that the workers of BTL will not stand down on our request. Let me make note that we have filed two suits in the Belize courts, last Friday to be exact, one for a declaration on the Articles of Association of BTL, Article 36, and an injunction. The injunction that we have filed will be heard on Monday the 20th. The suit has been filed in court and the notice has now been served on BTL as of today. The injunction request is that BTL be prevented from authorizing any transfer of the shares to any entity that will enable that entity to hold more than 25% of the shares of BTL. The key to our whole injunction is that even if GOB and Michael Ashcroft are to execute the sale of the shares, and we might note that a lot of people keep mentioning that the sale of shares might have happened already, that even if they do, there will be no transfer of shares as the injunction is already in court and will be heard on Monday the 20th of June. The effect that will cause to the Board of BTL is that they will be prevented from transferring shares to any entity. If you again deprive us Belizeans of the opportunity to take over control of BTL, it will be an irreparable injury to the national interest that will not be soon forgotten. I want to make it clear to the Belizean public that we the workers of BTL will not cease in our fight to return ownership of BTL to Belizeans. The shares owned by Jeffrey Prosser, when available, will be sold to all Belizeans who want to own shares in BTL; the unions, Social Security which would benefit all of us at the end of the day, and to ordinary Belizeans. We shall to continue to do what is necessary to get what is ours and will stand firm so look out. Solidarity forever."
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