Last week Justice Samuel Awich awarded $420,000 to 6 banana workers
for their wrongful termination from a farm in Maya King because they tried to
form a union. It set a precedent and now Christine Perriott is using it to challenge
her termination from BTL in February of 2007. She too claims she was fired because
of union activities and is seeking unspecified damages which could – and
we stress that it could - be as high as $2.5 million. The trial began today
and it was fiery. Perriott maintained she brought the suit because of her wrongful
dismissal and the violation of her rights because she was a vocal critic of
management.
But attorney for Belize Telemedia Andrew Marshalleck challenged her,
arguing that it is all about the money. She denied that and under a heated cross-examination
– Marshalleck put to Perriott that she wasn’t fired because of her
union activities, it was because of her belligerence. Christine Perriott’s
testimony finished just after 3 pm and the case was adjourned until tomorrow.
We spoke to Christine Perriott’s attorney Antoinette Moore after the adjournment.
Antoinette Moore, Attorney for Christine Perriott
“Tomorrow we continue. It is a battle.”
Rowland Parks, Amandala
“How many witnesses are lined up to testify?”
Antoinette Moore,
“I can’t say because we are still negotiating who wants to cross
examine who. If a witness is not required to be cross examined then they are
not necessarily required to be in court because their evidence through their
affidavit is already given to the court.”
Keith Swift,
“How much money is she asking for?”
Antoinette Moore,
“There is not a specific amount. She is asking for compensation and
the remedies that are allowed under the Trade Union and Employers Organization
Act.”
Keith Swift,
“So it is not $2.5 million?”
Antoinette Moore,
“That is not what she was asking for. That is an assessment of what
she would have earned had she remained at the company throughout up to retirement.
That was not what she was asking for.”
The trial continues tomorrow when the former Human Resources Manager
at Belize Telemedia Dale Trujeque will testify. We should note that among the
affidavits tendered into evidence is a statement from psychiatrist Claudina
Cayetano who treated Perriott in the days following her reinstatement at BTL.
Again under the Trade Unions and Employers Organization Act, no specific dollar
amount is being sought. Christine has however indicated in filings that if she
had remained at BTL through to her retirement at age 65, the $2.5 million was
what she would have earned. Justice John Muria is the presiding judge.
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