Audrey Matura-Shepherd, the former Vice-President of Oceana in Belize, and a practicing attorney at law, is poised to become the next President of the Christian Workers Union. Current Executive Members Antonio Gonzalez and James McFoy will step aside and allow a new executive to be elected, which will include Matura-Shepherd at the helm.
As we've told you, in October, the NTUCB expelled the CWU after they tried to oversee a general congress meeting which failed to elect new executives, which was organized by outspoken stevedore Deon Pittah, who offered himself as a president.
Well, Pittah and CWU firebrand Raymond Rivers have backed Audrey Matura-Shepherd as their new candidate, who's reportedly gotten the support of the general membership.
Today, all parties who have been divided since the Stevedores moved against Gonzalez held a joint press conference to announce the decision. Gonzalez and McFoy will have a relatively graceful exit, and Matura-Shepherd will be endorsed as the new President on Saturday during a special convention to elect a new executive. Here's how they explained it:
Basil Brannon, Representative - Central bank of Belize
"We did a survey and everybody unanimously wants her to be our president. She will not run because there is no other person with her."
Audrey Matura-Shepherd - Aspiring President - CWU
"Every member of the executive is being removed and there is a whole new executive coming on board. Even existing ones, if they want to be re-elected they had to be re-nominated. When they put out the call for nomination for the presidency there were no other nominations. Of course they also informed the membership that one of the persons that they had been looking at was I. It took a long while for me to answer that, but because there was absolutely no challenge to the office, it will be an endorsement on Saturday."
Antonio Gonzalez, Outgoing President - CWU
"On Saturday, having this special convention to elect new officers, I really hope that and I echoed some of the sentiments and words of sister Matura that we need strong people within the leadership of the Christian Workers Union."
James McFoy, Outgoing General Secretary - CWU
"I will beforehand congratulate who will be the new executive and Mrs. Matura, its sounds like you will be the president."
Deon Pitter. Member - CWU
"I won't lament any more on the negative. It's the way forward with our champion. I feel irie with things, but I won't keep my eyes close no more. I will pay attention to my business to the max."
Raymond Rivers, Member - CWU
"People say that we are rowdy, we this and we that, but at the end of the day we (the Belizean people) could move from the Prime Minister of Belize if we wanted to."
Antonio Gonzalez, Outgoing President - CWU
"I will continue to also champion the rights of workers regardless of not being within the union."
Audrey Matura-Shepherd - Aspiring President - CWU
"I told them that I am prepared to serve for one term, I do not believe in holding on to an office forever because you become complacent, you become so complacent; you don't become accountable. It becomes about you and not about the job."
The convention will be held at St. Mary Hall in Belize City from 8:30 a.m. to 12 midday on Saturday. The membership of the Union is being called on to make representation and vote for their executives.
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