In a strategic shift announced on August 17, 2026, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize has canceled its planned nationwide protest scheduled for the following day — but union leadership has stressed that the pause in street action does not signal an end to their campaign. Rather than moving forward with public demonstration, labor leaders are taking their advocacy into a formal setting, with a 10 a.m. press conference set to take place at the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) headquarters in Belize City.
Union representatives noted that the decision to call off the protest is a deliberate move to conserve organizational energy and resources for future action, should government and industry stakeholders fail to meaningfully address their core concerns. At the top of the unions’ list of demands is the immediate removal of Markhelm Lizarraga from his position as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Belize Telemedia Limited (BTL).
The announcement comes on the same day that key social partners gathered for a strategy meeting at the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry, where attendees worked to map out a path forward for negotiations between labor representatives and governing bodies. Local media outlet News Five has confirmed that it will provide full, dedicated coverage of the upcoming press conference to share the unions’ formal statements and next steps with the public.
This report is adapted from a transcribed evening television broadcast, with all Kriol-language remarks preserved using standardized spelling conventions per the original outlet’s editorial practices.