And in more news of how the public sector has responded to the tragic Civic Accident…last night three statements surrounding the event were issued by the NTUCB, the Ministry of Labor, and the PUP.
The NTUCB in particular claimed in their release that, before this preventable accident they had already sent correspondences to the Chamber of Commerce to get back to the discussion table and address concerns with the OSH Bill.
Tonight The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry in its own press release reiterated its commitment to the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Bill.
The BCCI further urged all employers and employees to practice good safety protocols at all times in the workplace even in absence of legislation to require it.
When we caught up with the BCCI's President Nikita Usher at the Biltmore today, Usher told us that in fact it is the NTUCB which has yet to complete analysis of the bill - which, by the way, must now be completely reintroduced to parliament.
Nikita Usher, President, B.C.C.I.
"The OSH Bill is not really a hold up by the Chamber. The OSH Bill went to the House initially and when the House was dissolved that bill actually is now no longer in existence. You now have to reboot that bill. That bill has been asked for the N.T.U.C.B. and the Chamber to meet on the bill. The bill is a very lengthy bill but it is very onerous. It is a bill that has implications other ways and so we felt that we had to have a meeting of the minds of both entities to ensure that you have collective agreement on where that bill will go. We have called for the last fourteen months, sessions with the N.T.U.C.B. As a matter of fact the last meeting was held on July 2nd after which they will come back now at the table for us to look at the detail; what we can afford to agree to and what we cannot afford to agree to. When the N.T.U.C.B. finishes their analysis, I can't really answer for Mr. Mora, but we know the Chamber has done its part. We know where we would want the bill to go. Where are waiting on them to come forward with that. Once that is completed then it goes to government again to now to go as a bill back into the House."
The BCCI's statement also clarified that at no point has the BCCI ever opposed the OSH Bill itself. They also wished to assure the public that both the BCCI and the unions have indeed been working towards finalizing this most important legislation.
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