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Well, as of this morning, we'd say that dialogue is just about over because workers who won't get paid this Friday formed a picket line in front of City Hall. 7news was there:….

Monica Bodden Reporting This was what the City looked like when we took a drive around the different areas this morning.

Bags and bags of garbage lay in front of homes - uncollected, everyone waiting for the Belize Waste Control trucks to pass and take them away.

But that is not going to happen anytime soon - since over 40 employees of the Belize Waste Control gathered in front of City Hall today with plackards in their hands and chanting to one tune and one tune only -"We need wi money now… Mista Tillett please give wi - wi money"…referring to financial controller Patrick Tillett.

The company claims that the City Council has not been making payments for the picking up of the city's garbage over the past 12 weeks…

And while the employees picket City Hall - their manager, George Lamb was in a meeting most of this morning - with Financial Controller Tillett.

George Lamb- Manager Belize Waste Control
"Well basically we are still at a impasse, Mr. Tillett at this point is unable to make a commitment for payment so there will be a follow up meeting this afternoon but we are still in the same position. we have not been paid for 12 weeks and the council is unable to say exactly when payment will be made."

Another meeting was held in the afternoon… and once again there was still not a solution - the council's response was basically still the same " we have no money to pay you"…

This means Waste Control will continue to picket - while the city is over-run with garbage.

George Lamb- Manager Belize Waste Control
"We need the money, the company is out of money right now and we need to make payment to our creditors, we don't have any money to operate, the service is an essential service and in order for us to provide waste management service in Belize City we need to be paid. So what we are going to do, we will work with what we have, whatever limited resources we have until that runs out we will continue."

And while the Mayor did tell us that Lamb has been in dialog with the council since last week - today's reality is that while talk is good - it does not put food on the table for over 40 plus employees.

George Lamb- Manager Belize Waste Control
"The thing is that we need money, talking is good but we need money, we need to make payment, I need to pay my workers and so I think it's time for the council to pay Belize Waste Control so we can provide the service in Belize City that the citizens needs."

Protestor
"Well my purpose out here is that we need to tell city council that they need to pay us our money because we will not have any job, we will not be able to put bread on our table, we want to eat ham and turkey just like him for the Christmas. We need to feed our families."

Protestor
"We are protesting today, we were suppose to come yesterday but I don't know what the holdup is so we are here today and we are on."

Monica Bodden
"What is your placard saying?"

Protestor
"It says "we keep the city clean, unu chancey, we done work pay us."

Protestor
"Well the purpose of us being out here is because they don't want to pay us our money and we won't leave from here without getting our money."

Protestor
"We are here for the money that they owe us."

Monica Bodden
"So if they don't pay you all, you all can't work?"

Protestor
"We can't work, we are on strike."

Protestor
"We can't work right now because they don't have any money to pay themselves and neither us and then we won't allow this to happen because we need food to provide for our families."

Monica Bodden
"How is it affecting you personally, you are out here and not working, people garbage is not getting pick up?"

Protestor
"Well miss lady its until city council pay us, this will constantly happen until we get paid."

And the raw reality of the company not being paid by the City Council -is that on Friday Belize Waste Control workers will not be receiving a paycheck.

George Lamb- Manager Belize Waste Control
"The truth of the matter is that we have not been paid for over 12 weeks - going back all the way to the month of August. The limited resources that the company had available had been exhausted, very reluctantly I am saying this to my workers 'I won't be able to cut you a cheque this Friday, I got to send you home' now that's difficult for me to do because they are good workers, they have been working hard keeping the city clean and we all enjoy a clean city because of the effort. Now to say to them - we are not able to pay you on Friday, now can you imagine the impact it will have upon their families, upon our society. I believe that the city department and Mr. Tillett needs to put their priorities in order and really take this service seriously, it's an essential service. So it's difficult for my workers to say that I am not sure if you will get paid on Friday."

We understand that the Belize City Council owes the company over 300 thousand dollars. The workers will continue their picket tomorrow and until they get paid….