Unions Express Frustration Over Government’s Response to Public Outcry

While today’s demonstration remained peaceful, the unions say they are reaching a breaking point and are frustrated with the Briceno Administration’s style of governance. The labor unions had hoped to garner the attention of Prime Minister John Briceno today, but their chants fell on deaf ears. President of the Public Service Union Dean Flowers says the government’s lackadaisical response to the outrage of the Belizean people speaks volumes. Today, he reminded Briceno that when he was in opposition, he spoke about what can come from the frustration of citizens banding together.

Dean Flowers, President, PSU: “I’m calling on the Briceño administration and I want to quote the Prime Minister because I’m very serious here. There was a clip where he said while he was in opposition position, “we have to change because one of us is going to get hurt out here.” Research your news clip he said that. He said good people are getting frustrated out here. And good people like myself were on the fringes of doing stupidness. And I’m not threatening anybody.  I’m saying because of your worthless decisions that is putting my children’s future at risk you are pushing us to the edge. Go back and reflect on what you said about 5 or 10 years ago. People di get frustrated out here and when that revolution comes, or when that madman snaps it won’t be a crazy man off the street you know ? It will be a man in neck tie. Trust me, so that is my message. They need to really reconsider this thing and I want to say to the public officers in the Ministry of Health, please stop making an A S S of yourself by appearing in front of the camera and trying to explain stupidness. We respect you as public officers. You have duty and obligation to provide quality public service and not to defend corruption.”

Union Senator Glenfield Dennison also had a few remarks for the government of the day. He says that while today’s venture may not have produced fruitful results, they will be seeking the assistance of the Judiciary, which is now stacked with judges who cannot be politically victimized.

Glenfield Dennison, Senator: “The important thing is that there’s also a third branch of government. And thankfully, it was recently fully staffed with a lot of technical people from out of Belize who are not tainted with the politics of Belize. I clamored against the filling of the judiciary with foreign judges, I still do. But I think a surprise will come for the executive very soon when the judges start issuing judgments against the government and surprise surprise they all have security of tenure. These judges are all appointed until they’re 65. So you might not be afraid for the union or so but when the court action starts coming I really hope that the executive starts to pay attention.”

The unions say they will be working to have an audit done at the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Lands Department.