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He says it all started when he was transferred to Dangriga at the end of last year - a transfer he resisted because it didn't make sense.

Paul Perriot, Resigns from BTL
"Yes when I met with them in the initial meeting with the Human Resources Manager, I told them that I didn't want to go to Dangriga. I told them why I didn't want to go to Dangriga. I told them that there were other staff who were able to that job and moreover so the department that I was left in, I was the lead person with our equipment and I wouldn't be in the best interest either for the company for me to leave the department, so I objected."

"They had told me initially that I had time to respond and I told them I would have responded that same day or maybe the following day, but I received my letter of transfer the same evening so before I even responded I received the letter and since then I did write a letter, I have written others letters to them. Last two weeks ago I met with the head of our department - the general manager actually and I explained to him what I was facing in Dangriga and I tell him that nothing that was said is coming through and I again told him that I cannot continue, I mean there has to be something done by BTL as it relates to my position there in Dangriga."

"His response to me from the company was that I didn't have a choice - I have to return to Dangriga and I said that I wouldn't return and that's when I tendered my resignation. And I have decided to let the courts decide how and if it was right what they did. I look at the situation as a slap in the face for even us in the trade union movement because I represent the laborers and workers on the Senate which is one of the highest bodies within Belize. But it just shows that the government doesn't care what it is or what position you hold even as a Senator representing workers. I am being pushed around so what could happen to another employee who is not even in the position that I hold? But this is the way they ended up pushing me through the door and I know it was calculated and planned to happen this way. It was either I resign or the probationary period given to me would have not been favourable. So I would have been terminated through that process anyway."

Monica Bodden
"Do you feel this is a union busting?"

Paul Perriot, Resigns from BTL
"Definitely union busting. Surprising that the present administration and BTL is doing this to us because they supported the union in 2005 when we were going up against the past administration. It's surprising, I never believed that it would ever come down to where we are right now."

Monica Bodden
"What next for you Mr. Perriot? Are you planning on suing the company?"

Paul Perriot, Resigns from BTL
"Well I plan to take the matter to court and let the court decide if it was union busting or if it was right for them to do what they did."

After our interview Perriot went into a meeting with some members of the Belize Communication Workers Union - but the meeting had to be held outside the compound because it was what management called an unauthorized meeting. Apparently with Perriot's resignation a long standing rift in the Union has re-surfaced.

And now past president Mark Gladden - who was deposed by Perriot last year - is apparently reclaiming the presidency. A bulletin was sent out to staff by BCWU's President, Mark Gladden, this afternoon urging all members not to attend the meeting- saying it was not endorsed in any way or was not organized by the present Executives.

The Gladden message also warns that a code lavender rumoured to be planned for tomorrow is not supported by the union. Of course, the coincidence in all this is not lost on us. Paul Perriot's wife, Christine Perriot was famously terminated almost exactly three years ago on February 27, 2007 - by the then Ashcroft-allied management. There was great hue and cry and multiple court cases which led, at the end of the last year to a victory in the courts for Christine Perriot when she was vindicated and BTL ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

But she still hasn't been paid. According to a BTL public relations representative, a check in excess of four hundred thousand dollars was made for her, but she did not accept it, because of a discrepancy in the court's calculation. According to BTL it has gone back to court, so that matter is still pending.

Now Paul Perriot will also go to court, with the difference being that he resigned and was not terminated…..He argues that he was railroaded into that resignation.