In a significant show of cross-sector unity, Public Service Union (PSU) President Dean Flowers has publicly endorsed the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (BCCI) stance on a rumored corporate buyout, while launching a sharp critique against the nation’s state-controlled utility monopolies. Speaking on January 8, 2026, Flowers articulated a firm position that these monopolies are failing the Belizean public despite their dominant market positions.
Flowers highlighted a central paradox: despite their protected status, utilities like the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) and Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) are consistently operating at a financial loss. He argued that this poor performance directly contradicts the expected economic benefit for citizens, who have not seen a corresponding reduction in their utility costs.
The union president further detailed the broader economic ramifications, revealing that a substantial portion of the national social security pension fund is invested in these underperforming state enterprises. This situation creates a precarious long-term risk for the retirement benefits of Belizean workers. He specifically called out BEL for its contradictory position of requesting additional financial support while simultaneously being unable to generate a profit that would secure the sustainability of the pension investments it holds.
Concluding his remarks, Flowers expressly commended the BCCI for its recent official response to the economic situation, stating it was ‘on point’ and marking a rare moment of ‘full solidarity’ between the labor and business communities on a pressing national economic issue.