And as promised, the Leader of the Opposition highlighted their plight and put it on record in parliament. She rose on the adjournment to sympathize with the former workers and demand that they be paid what they worked for.
Tracy Panton, Leader of Opposition
"Outside this very house, Madam Speaker, former employees of BTL gathered this morning in a peaceful protest. They are not agitators. They are Belizeans who have given years, some of them, Madam Speaker, decades of service to the National Telecommunications Company that helped to build a modern communications network of this country."
"Today, they did not advocate for charity. Rather, they are advocating for justice. They stand because they are owed their full severance payments together with the 6% interest that was recognized as part of their entitlement."
"Many of these workers, Madam Speaker, have waited for years for what is rightfully theirs. The principle at stake is simple. When Belizeans work and earn a benefit under the law, the benefit must be honored."
"A government that stands for workers cannot remain silent while former employees are forced to protest outside the very institution that they help to build. Many of them, Madam Speaker, continue to suffer in silence, but still they need their voices to be heard."
But the Public Utilities Minister Michael Chebat came prepared to respond - although his rebuttal sounded more like a corporate press release. He reiterated the chain of events from the CCJ case - stating that those claimants have already been paid what the court ruled, and repeating BTL's own statements that the company is already paying more than what it believes it should since they've done away with the 6 year limitation period.
But before he could get into it, sparks flew across the floor between Chebat and the Mesopotamia area rep. Here's how that went.
Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities
"We are all agreed that they must be paid their severance. We hear them, Madam Speaker, and we support their right to be paid their severance. As a matter of fact, Madam Speaker, this is the party and the government of workers of this country."
"This is the government that just passed the OSH Act to protect the workers of this country. So, where were they for the past 13 years? How long was that bill in draft and they never brought it to the House to be passed to support the workers of this country, Madam Speaker?"
"And let us recall who advised..."
Lee Mark Chang, Area Rep. Mesopotamia
"On a point of order, this has nothing to do with the BTL thing with the SOH bill."
Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities
"Madam Speaker, they cannot constrain my response. They have asked a question. They have raised a matter and I am going to respond."
Lee Mark Chang, Area Rep. Mesopotamia
"And how they constrain my one and they can't constrain your one?"
Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities
"You can't tell me how I am going to respond."
Speaker of the Hpuse
"Members. You have to allow the chair. Member, I ask you to please take a seat. I only ask that, yes, you have pointed orders, you stand, but then you have to allow the chair. you can't take over my role to."
"Continue with your contribution specific to the matter of national..."
Michel Chebat, Minister of Public Utilities
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. And our negotiations with BTL regarding severance payments to BTL's former employees who meet the requirement under Section 183 of the Labor Act for severance payments."
Later on in the news, we'll have more from the house, including the budget presentation.
