Local News

Workers from the Belize Lodge & Excursion in Punta Gorda are disgruntled of unpaid wages and have taken steps to address the situation. Paul Mahung reports.

PAUL MAHUNG, Reporter

“Workers of a lodge in Toledo remain very concerned about their unpaid wages.  The Belize Lodge and Excursion is located in Indian Creek Village, Toledo and a number of workers of the Lodge have had enough of waiting for their duly unpaid wages.  This situation triggered off a reason for a group of workers and villagers to wait at the front gate of the Lodge as explained by Indian Creek village chairman Romero Coc.”

ROMERO COC, Village Chairman (Indian Creek)

“Thursday night July 2012 information was that owner of the Belize Lodge and Excursion Company was coming in the village and immediately workers gathered to wait for him in front of the company gate.  Upon his arrival workers attempted to have a talk with him but he refused to do so and instead he sped off in his vehicle.  Late that morning police arrived at the scene and interviewed several workers on the date and months they were owed by the company.  Having reliably informed that Mr. Carlos was still in the village police was sent to get him which they did.  Both Carlos and Mr. Nathaniel Moss, the manager was then brought to the police station.

PAUL MAHUNG, Reporter

“Chairman Coc also spoke of what transpired at the Punta Gorda Police Station and payment plan. 

ROMERO COC, Village Chairman (Indian Creek)

“Workers were asked to make formal statement to the police station PG Branch regarding their pay but sad to say upon their arrival none of the workers were given a chance to voice their concern in person at the station.  At the station, myself, Romero Coc; labor officer, Mr. Ramos, detective, inspector Dominquez, Mr. Kenneth, Mr. Nathaniel Moss  conveyed in a room at the station to negotiate and demand a payment plan if the owner cannot pay for it.  Mr. Carlos agreed to give the first payment on August 3^rd, 2012 and thereafter payments proceed every thirty days until all workers are paid.  Defaulting in payment will lead to court case filling at the Magistrate Court by the Labor Department and Labor Officer PG Branch.”

PAUL MAHUNG, Reporter

“Coc further commented that from his investigation there are twenty eight unpaid workers from Indian Creek and many others from other nearby communities who have not been paid by the management of the Belie Lodge and Excursion for work done ranging for a period of two months to over a year.  Reporting for Love News, Paul Mahung, Punta Gorda.”