In a groundbreaking decision, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has ruled that Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) must pay severance benefits to all former employees, regardless of their retirement status. This landmark case, decided on November 5, 2025, marks a significant victory for ten retirees who argued that severance pay is a legal right under the Labour Act, even after receiving pension benefits. The CCJ’s ruling overturns BTL’s long-standing practice of substituting severance with pension benefits, a policy the company had implemented since the 1990s. Senior Counsel Eamon Courtenay, who represented the retirees, explained that the case involved three categories of employees: those who resigned, those who retired voluntarily, and those who reached the mandatory retirement age of fifty-five. Initially, the Court of Appeal had ruled that only those who resigned were entitled to severance, but the CCJ’s unanimous decision extends this right to all retirees. The court emphasized that severance is a statutory entitlement that cannot be waived or replaced by pension benefits. This ruling sets a precedent for labor rights in the Caribbean and ensures that employees are fairly compensated upon leaving their jobs.