A coalition of more than 130 former Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL) employees is intensifying its campaign for severance benefits allegedly withheld for years, now threatening public demonstrations if their demands remain unmet. The group, operating under the name Belize Communication Workers for Justice, has gained significant legal leverage following a landmark November ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The court determined that pension benefits cannot legally substitute for severance entitlements, effectively mandating compensation for hundreds of former telecommunications workers.
The dispute centers on claims that BTL, Belize’s dominant telecommunications provider, systematically marginalized long-serving employees who helped build the nation’s telecom infrastructure. Former union leaders, including past presidents Paul Perriot and Emily Turner, have joined the growing movement, emphasizing that their pursuit is not a request but a demand for legally mandated compensation. Their position is strengthened by the CCJ’s judicial decision, which they assert leaves the company with no valid justification for further delay.
Complicating the situation is BTL’s concurrent advancement of an $80 million acquisition plan for Speednet, a move that former employees cite as evidence of the company’s financial capacity to fulfill its obligations. The workers maintain that their fight transcends monetary compensation, representing broader issues of corporate accountability, workers’ rights, and respect for years of service. Ivan Puerto, a 20-year BTL veteran, articulated that the struggle is for dignity and recognition of contributions made by himself and colleagues facing post-employment hardships.
The group has announced plans to outline specific escalation strategies, including potential marches on BTL’s corporate headquarters on St. Thomas Street, should management continue to disregard both their demands and the CCJ ruling. This developing situation highlights ongoing tensions between corporate interests and worker rights in Belize’s evolving telecommunications sector.