Yesterday, we told you that retired public officers were planning to march on the National Assembly building in Belmopan to demand that the Public Sector Workers' Trust be dissolved after almost 3 decades.
We reported that it was back in 1995 when the Esquivel administration froze the public officers' wages for two years, giving them 480,000 shares in BTL to make up for it. Many of these officers have retired since then, and they say they don't have much time left, so they want their money now.
But, it's a complicated process since the matter of the Trust is currently before the Court of Appeal, which means the government's hands are tied.
But after 27 years, the retirees aren't accepting any excuses. Courtney Menzies was in Belmopan today and has this story.
Protestor
"Dissolve the trust now, we want our money now."
That was the chorus of the retired public officers who say they want the money they were promised while they're still alive to spend it.
It's been over two decades since they had to sacrifice their increments - a move that led to them taking to the streets much like they did today.
But unlike then, today's protest was just to let the government know that they haven't forgotten the PM's promise to dissolve the fund.
Hubert Enriquez, Former Public Officer
"This has been a long going struggle for many years, you know that this thing has been ongoing for the past 27 years and the matter has gone to court, but it's still not quite resolved yet and so we think there's now need for political action, we've done legal action, now it's political action."
"One, we want the trust to be dissolved and we want speedy action because the government can say yes they want to do it but it's taking too long, the past three months and nothing has happened, that's why we are concerned. And even so, even while this matter is taking place, the trust still continues to operate as normal. And we fear that if it continues the way it is, by the time that is dissolved, there will be no funds left to pay any level of compensation to most of the deserving public officers who are the beneficiaries."
And they say the best time do dissolve the trust is now, when there is enough in it to ensure all beneficiaries get what they believe is justly theirs.
Hubert Enriquez, Former Public Officer
"At this point in time after 27 years, the trust has had sufficient funds to be able to pay all the public officers who were affected by the thing, it really doesn't make sense for us to go through a project if it has fulfilled it's purpose of generating the funds to be able to pay each persons for what was lost."
"They prefer to sell it that way because it makes a good argument for them that is we dissolve the trust for cash, it will be a little amount, but the fact of the matter is this that when this whole matter was set up, we have now been able to, the fund is now at a point where they can afford to pay each and every person what they actually lost."
But to start the process, they say it must begin with new trustees and more transparency:
Hubert Enriquez, Former Public Officer
"Really the trust does not represent the beneficiaries as you can see, we're out here, they're doing their own thing basically, they're really working on behalf of the unions, and the unions have gotten their funds, they have gotten funds from out of the trust, they owe the trust millions of dollars, we need to have those things properly ventilated so we can know what's happening, we don't know what's happening and we are the persons who actually suffered this loss."
"I think the unions have their own designs on the funds, they have gotten loans which they loan to other members, and they are enjoying it and so that's really part of the reason why we need to look at those funds because those funds are outstanding."
"What we want to see happen initially is that the trustees be recalled, new trustees be named to oversee the resumption of the trust."
And Enriquez warned that there will be more demonstrations if the government - as the settler - doesn't make moves to dissolve the trust.
But before the tension could rise, the PM took a break from the budget debate to meet with the retirees on the stairs of the National Assembly.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"You guys can get your money, you need, you're already retired. But unfortunately, it is in the courts, it is in the Court of Appeal so that's why the government will have to wait until we finish that case, now what Minister Usher, the Minister in shared of the public service is telling me that what we can do, we can send in an affidavit in support of what you are requesting so we can do that but unfortunately we have to wait until the court case done. But I just came out to tell you that our government supports you."
Protester:
"I don't want to die before I get my little bit of money, I really need my money, and I think all of us need it too but I don't want to close these eyes because I want to use it myself, that's what I'm talking about."
Protester:
"Meanwhile what are we supposed to do these people are still spending the money."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I understand, I don't know if there's anything- I will ask the attorney general to see if there is anything that can be done for now to put everything on pause but I don't know, I'd have to find out."
And the PM's words - and a few handshakes and hugs - placated the protesters - for now.
But he told us that he is on their side, but plans to get the entire story before spouting any speculations.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It's simply because from when I heard what they're talking about, I really believe it's their money so they should get their money, some of these people, they have retired, they're not making as much money, if any, when they were working, as you get older you have more medical bills, and they need all the help they can get and as one of the ladies said, she wants her money, not when she dies, somebody else will get it so it's only right that they get it, I am not causing any kind of aspersions against the trustees, I know nothing about what why're doing but I will sit down and speak with the attorney general to see what can be done, what kind of reports we can get to get a full account of whatever monies have been spent."
So with promises of meetings and discussions, the retirees left as peacefully as they arrived, and now wait with their placards ready to see if the government will follow through.
The prime minister has told the retirees that he will schedule a meeting with them, Minister Henry Charles Usher, and the AG after the Easter holiday.
