But the office Christian Workers Union today sent out a release urging members not to attend the meeting, in spite of what the NTUCB says. The release says, quote, "The CWU reiterates that it has not sanctioned or authorized any meeting or Congress for 26thOctober, 2013.
The Union calls on all members not to attend any unauthorized meeting." End quote.
It closes, "The Congress...shall be held in February 2014 and emphatically not on the 26thOctober, 2013." But this evening, the Stevedores and their advisors had even more emphasis when they denied allegation made by CWU President Antonio Gonzalez and General Secretary James McFoy. They told 7news that at last Friday's meeting of shop stewards, stevedores Deon Pitta and Raymond Rivers voted in favour of that February meeting. This evening Pitta and Rivers held a press conference along with their advisor where they flatly denied that:
Jules Vasquez
"According to Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. McFoy you all voted in favor of a February meeting. That's what they said."
Deon "Ras" Pitta, candidate for CWU President
"That's a lie"
Jules Vasquez
"Straight like that?"
Dale Trujeque
"I am calling them a liar and I am telling them sue me for liable. You lied on 150 Stevedores when you said they also voted to extend. Your minutes generated by your people by your (stooges), I don't like to call people that but I have to - your minutes said the vote was ten to one."
Raymond Rivers, Stevedore
"We were around the table in Belmopan on Friday yes, Pitta and I voted no. I asked why can't we have the thing on the 26th. They brought up another thing that they needed $13,000 to have it. I told them I have the $13,000 at home, so let us do it now. Everyone was shocked, "Rivers you have it?" they asked. Yes I have it, I told them and look what's happening now - we have everything for the congress tomorrow and didn't need the $13,000. So it's an absolute hogwash that they brought to us at Belmopan, but it's just a few people who are linked to political people with delegates and husband and wife and Mr. Gons doesn't want to give up his power. Even with zero dollars in this union, this man does not want to give it up."
Dale Trujeque
"I want to tell everybody this evening that I'm going to step aside. I will not accept the nomination. I am fully endorsing Deon Pitta to be the president of the CWU. I will be by his side, still advising him but I'm not here to divide the CWU. Apparently, its self-destructing and I may be contributing to it because of my persona. I don't want to contribute to it that way. I want to contribute to it in a unifying way."
Deon "Ras" Pitta, candidate for CWU President
"If we don't have our congress tomorrow, we could be expelled and if we're expelled we won't have any bargaining power. If I have to (as what my two brethren said they will endorse me), I will take that. Members I'm going to the end. It's all in your hands."
Dale Trujeque
"We will have the congress thanks to the help of the sister unions and if we have to go to court we will go to court to enforce the outcome of that congress. We think that right is on our side. Right isn't always the right thing in Belize but this time, right is on the side of these men."
Deon "Ras" Pitta, candidate for CWU President
"I am calling on all the entities, all the members because you all are the power. Come out tomorrow and exercise your rights and make us clean up CWU."
So, the stage is set for a showdown tomorrow at Bird's Isle and, of course, 7News will be there.
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