December 18, 2006
Mr. Russell Vellos
Editor-in-Chief
Amandala
Dear Sir,
On our weekly gathering at the Corozal Central Park Office where we discuss several issues, one of our commentators brought up the issue about why many of the leaders of the GWU of the 60’s couldn’t respond in a more efficient way on behalf of the working class of the country.
He said that there were very good leaders that were fighting for the working class rights and not for themselves, regardless of the fact that they were not getting paid to do so and that their personal way of earning money to sustain their families was in play. Many of them had to go to another country to work so that today they can live off their pensions. Others were offered a post with higher salary, one which they couldn’t refuse because they also had a family to maintain. The working class wasn’t giving money to sustain the leaders of those days, and when accepting an offered post, they were accused as traitors.
Another one of the commentators said that many of the leaders tried to play a double game and in no way a leader can serve two masters at the same time.
A lady approached us saying, “Gentlemen, I have been hearing your comments about the General Workers Union. Let me say to you that on November 29, 2006, the Amandala published an article entitled, ‘Antonio Soberanis and the 1934-35 disturbances in Belize.’ It states that Antonio Soberanis in a speech denounced the Unemployed Brigade leaders as ‘cowards’ and said that he would prefer to be a dead hero than a living coward.”
Another commentator said that he joined the General Workers Union sometime in 1957 and his teacher was Thomas Martinez. “I got to like his doctrine and followed it. Sometime in the 1960’s we had over 500 members plus the shop attendants. I became the vice-president. I told our members that if they would support me for president, I would get a land to put our office in Corozal.
“I got their support and I became the president of the GWU. During the time of Santiago Ricalde as Mayor of Corozal, I approached him to request a parcel of land. He told me to go search for one, and I proceeded to do so, which I found. Such parcel of land was called Margerie Court. This land was given to me for the workers of Corozal. Afterwards I was able to get the title with the help of Florencio Marin, Sr.
“The agreement I made with my fellow workers was that if in the future our Union should disintegrate, such land would stay for the people and workers of Corozal. Should they organize another workers’ union, they would have a place where to start to have their gathering.
“Time had passed and today I see that a Chinese has purchased for a business a portion of that land with the building that we, the workers, had built with our money and labour, and the rest have been rented out to other persons. I don’t know who is receiving the rents, and I don’t know who sold out a portion of Margerie Court.
“I also know that we had left a good sum of money in the bank, and I don’t know what has become of such money. I tried to join the cañeros of Corozal to the General Workers Union, but they told us that we were a dory and they a ship. They looked at us as if we were insignificant. There are many of the members of those days who live in Corozal. They can confirm what I am saying. But I want to emphasize one thing. The Margerie Court is for the working class of Corozal.
“This and many other things more are not said in Belize’s history books. Who has the title for Margerie Court in Corozal, and who sold out? I don’t need to give my name. Those who know, will know who I am, and I am telling you all this in front of my teacher who is well alive.”
Respectfully,
(Signed) Clinton Uh Luna
Finca Solana
Corozal Town