Friday, March 31, 2023
I suppose that the time will come when Belize will begin to realize and recognize the absolute importance of national unity, especially when it involves a small, financially challenged union against a behemoth with all the money to challenge, to stymie, to cut the legs and power of the unions from under them. That the behemoth is foreign is in itself an insult to—I won’t say the manhood, too misogynistic—but to the hardworking people of Belize. I know some will say that the Lord has a Belizean passport; so do many others, who have their money in foreign banks. They don’t create anything; they just buy and improve, sometimes, institutions that were already there, and mostly created by Belizeans, and sold to these vampires who proceed to suck the blood out of an already anemic and budding economy!
We see this happening over and over with Ashcroft: from BTL, which he acquired for pennies, considering its worth, to the port and on and on. The one good thing the UDP did during their untethered 12-year reign was to nationalize BTL! Then he goes to court with his unlimited resources and will keep on sucking; we are down to the marrow now, until either we stand up and do something about it, or just remain a victim or a country in name only. There has to be some constitutional solution to hinder the selfish impulses of “investors” such as these. I know there are international business laws that democratic countries have to abide by, but maybe we should let those wishing to invest in Belize know that there will be limits to their avarice. They’re taking advantage of our need to prosper, to see some light at the end of the tunnel. At this time, they’re the only ones who prosper, while the little guy is getting the proverbial shaft, right up the wazoo!
What is really interesting and surprising to me, is how calm and reasonable the union leaders are in the middle of this fight for a better life, for survival for their members. It just makes my blood boil seeing the same act over and over again: submit or we’ll sue you to kingdom come! I watched the president of the CWU discuss the lawsuit and the hard road ahead with legal fees, very calm and collected, while the opposing lawyer brought up “essential services”! That’s exactly when you should strike! When you have them by the balls, squeeze them to no mo, no mo! WTF?
Glen