The protest by BML workers against City Hall went into its second week
today. The city hasn’t paid BML and both sides are now at a stand-off
– with city hall saying it won’t pay for work that hasn’t
been done – and the sanitation company saying it can’t work if it
can’t get paid. A circular argument that has left the city in a state!
But the BML workers got a boost – if you can call it that – this
morning when a celebrity protestor joined them on the picket line. You know
what we mean by celebrity protestor. PUP leader John Briceno did it with the
Goods last week and today former city councilor Mark King did it with the BML
workers. Jacqueline Godwin asked him why he was there.
Mark King, Joined Protest
“Jackie this has nothing to do with being a former councillor. I am
in solidarity with our Belizean people because these people work for the city.
They need to be paid. For some reason or the other I think City Councillors
can pay themselves and that amounts to over $30,000 every time they pay themselves
and I think that money can be used to pay our workers, our Belize City workers.
I am not lobbying them to pay the company, I am lobbying on behalf of these
people out here, that they get paid. We have a bigger problem, they are cutting
out their lights, their water, their kids can’t go to school, Courts is
taking away their stuff and so it is a humane issue now Jackie, it is not just
a political issue.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“But should these sanitation workers be out here protesting in front of
City Hall or in front of BML?”
Mark King,
“Well Jackie let me ask you the question: if you weren’t being
paid by your employer, where were you going to be?”
Jacqueline Godwin,
“But then if your employer has been accused of not getting the job done
for what he or she is being paid, there is some reasoning as to why they should
as well be protesting in front of BML.”
Mark King,
“I can agree with you to a large extent but these people are protesting
for work that has already been done. As far as I am concerned, if they are on
strike right now, you don’t have to pay them for that but pay them for
the work they have already done. So it is fair. I am trying to be fair with
the people and with the councillors to say look councillors, if unu tek unu
stipend this month, unu really unjust to the Belizean workers out here. Give
them the same stipend that you all are getting.”
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