Former employees of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) intensified their demonstrations on February 27, 2026, shifting their protest venue from corporate headquarters to the personal business establishment of Board Chairman Mark Lizarraga. The Belize Communication Workers for Justice (BCWJ) organized the midday gathering at Lizarraga’s Southside Meat Shop on Albert Street West, where retired workers marched with placards under the intense midday sun, significantly disrupting local traffic flow.
The escalation follows collapsed negotiations and what organizers characterize as manipulative public relations tactics from BTL management. Emily Turner, a primary organizer, accused the company of exploiting former workers’ circumstances during a recent press conference rather than addressing their legitimate financial claims. “They would never have watched these people – and some of these people you can see, they cannot, they should not be out here,” Turner stated, emphasizing the physical strain on elderly protesters.
Central to the dispute is a contentious six percent payment that BCWJ maintains is owed to former employees. The fundamental disagreement concerns the interest calculation timeline: BTL asserts obligations commenced from the Caribbean Court of Justice’s November 2025 ruling, while retirees demand back-payment from their individual departure dates from the company.
Protest organizers revealed BTL has initiated individual outreach to former employees, a strategy perceived as attempting to fragment collective bargaining efforts. Former employee Michael Augustus cautioned colleagues against isolated negotiations, stating: “Don’t swallow their pill. They want to pull you in without a group behind you.”
The movement has announced plans to expand demonstrations to other board members’ residences and businesses, with Union Senator Glenfield Dennison confirming forthcoming protests targeting individual directors. For many participants who dedicated decades to BTL, the protest transcends financial compensation, representing a fundamental struggle for dignity and recognition of their contributions to Belize’s telecommunications infrastructure. Retirees traveled from distant regions including Punta Gorda and Corozal to participate, demonstrating nationwide solidarity among former telecom workers.