On Friday, 25 Department Of Transport open vote workers were fired from the Novelo's Bus Terminal in Belize City. We're told similar firings followed at other Department of Transport offices countrywide.
Today, the Minister with responsibility for transport explained the harsh political reality behind these firings; he said he has to find jobs for his voters - and, either way, he's damned:
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Public Utilities and Logistics
"What I did was not from my heart, 89,000 Belizeans voted for the People's United Party, which is the equivalent of almost 60% of the voting population. In my own constituency it is the biggest in the country 4,900 people voted for me and so that is to show you that the level of support I got from my people. Its actually history in the making, because never ever in the country of Belize any politician got 4,900 votes. I dont know if anybody will be able to break it because I think after this there will be a split in the division and so the voting population will be less and so why I say that is because then those people who voted for me, those who campaigned for me the expectations are high and I could say out of those who voted for me in particular one third is looking for a job. Government dont have the job to offer them. At one time you could have sent them to the private sector, the private sector dont even have the job to offer them. Right now about 60-65% of Belizeans are unemployed and it's a pity, it's unfortunate that Mr. Barrow covered all his coffers quite properly. Even those who had contracts, had bloated contracts but their all protected. The established workers are protected and if you could remember what he said in 2008, "I'm sorry, I will have to go after the open vote workers." And I think when you record my interview and play it tonight you can replay what he said in 2008, it is important for the Belizean people. I who am a human being and I have a soft heart, it was not my intention but if I did I'm damned, if I don't I'm damned because my people are expecting me to provide for them."
Cherisse Halsall:
"People may say that this is where a government starts to lose the goodwill of the people and why would you not take down someone from on top rather than attacking the small people."
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Public Utilities and Logistics
"Because it is impossible to take down those from the top, they are well protected ok they are protected by some bloated contracts it's a pity that the small people had to go, and I'm a human being as I said, and I can tell you some of them are already re-employed because of the passion I have for them."
