On Friday the unions, mostly the Teachers' Union, protested in Belmopan but the biggest news was the absence of Communication Workers' Union General Secretary Christine Perriot.
Since she was fired at the end of February, Perriot has been the cause celebre of the union movement with the UDP, the PUP, the VIP, and the Minister of Labour condemning BTL for firing her. On March 7, the NTUCB also issued demands to government, all of them related to Perriot's firing - and threatened to strike if Expeditious action was not taken. So when she didn't show up on Friday in Belmopan, it was like having a birthday party without the birthday girl.
So why didn't she show up? Well we've been trying to speak to Christine since Friday - and we thought we had an interview this morning until she called to postpone it. Despite countless, un-answered follow up calls, we're still waiting for a reschedule time. But she did call into Wave Radio this morning where she explained that she had a family emergency that did not allow her to be in Belmopan. Perriot insisted though that the protest was about more than her. Here's a recording of that from WAVE's 'Fus Thing Da Mawning.'
Christine Perriot,
"...want to inform the public the reason why BCWU didn't have participation there at the demonstration and I also called to make clear that the demonstration was not based on Christine Perriot. That demonstration was based on the many issues affecting each and every worker and each and every Belizean in this nation.
Even though it was done at where the budget was being heard, that was not the case. Christine Perriot yes was a part of it because what was done to Christine Perriot affects each and every worker.
While I had family problems that I had to deal with, or had to attend to, I am very grateful and thankful that there were the teachers and there were Energy Worker's Union and we had some BCWU workers that holding over that fort. And that is what unionism is about, it is when you have a general that can't do something else, you have others that will come out and stand up.
Our union had requested the time just like with the Water Services' Union. Time was requested but the company denied it saying that we have no business being out there. What I want the public to know is that the situation at BTL, right now we are under a hostile under environment."
On a related matter, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour told us this evening that the promised investigation into Christine Perriot's firing has been completed and is now being prepared.
