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The mayor has written the union to assure them that the new private security provider will take over all the staff - assuring no job loss. But, those staffers say that with one day to go before the changeover, they haven't gotten anything in writing from that new employer. And so, today they asked their union to go public with their issue in the hopes that some intervention will be made. President Audrey Matura Shepherd explained:..

Audrey Matura Shepherd, President - CWU
"They were told "we wish you all the best in your future endeavors." There was no commitment in writing that you are being dismissed from this council, however the commitment is from the new employees X,Y and Z - that never happened."

"The only official discussion I heard is sadly via the media where the mayor tell the new reporter that look we have been paying seven hundred thousand dollars on security annually and we are now going to cut it down to three hundred and fifty thousand which is 50%. What is the wages you would pay these workers? It would either mean less security or less pay."

Jamie Yearwood, security officer
"I find it very strange that the mayor could boast that he is building 200 concrete streets and 3 parks which costs millions of dollars and yet cannot pay just 36 people."

"When will we get paid? Our pay is already small. Nobody put nothing is writing about when we will get paid, but yet we should just leap and we don't know when we will get paid."

Security Officer
"Actually I am one of them that they told that I won't return back."

Jules Vasquez
"Why are you choosing not to go?"

Frank Gladden, Sr. security officer
"Because the man can't say when we will get paid - that makes sense to you?"

Jules Vasquez
"Are you disappointed or sadden that it's a UDP council who are dealing with you that way?"

Frank Gladden, Sr. security officer
"Of course, that's the whole point - that's why I am here. I would have prefer been fired by PUP. I wouldn't have cared at all because I expected that. You see, but fired by your own - that is a different story."

Noel Mejia, security officer - Mayor's residence
"I want to know come February 1st, 2014 if I have a job with Mr. Longsworth or with the Mayor Mr. Darrell Bradley because I was his security at his residence for almost a year."

"I used to run patties for the Mayor's mother-in-law."

Audrey Matura Shepherd, President - CWU
"On work time?"

Noel Mejia, security officer - Mayor's residence
"Yes, I work in the night and I run patties in the day. Sometimes I can't even rest. I told her miss I haven't slept yet, I am not iron and I need to take some rest."

Audrey Matura Shepherd, President - CWU
"The solution forward would be that: 1). they put on hold the termination until we have had the proper consultation with the union and the labor commissioner. 2). that that be placed on hold for atleast a month to give us time to discuss."

The mayor is currently in Mexico so he could not be reached for comment.

We did speak with Phillip Willoughby the councilor with responsibility for security services and he said he'd gladly make a comment but was in Belmopan. We asked him to call us when he got in so we could meet him at the council. We're still waiting for that call.

And so, it appears that on Saturday the current manager of the Council's Security Team will take over the security services in a private capacity - and he has committed to do it for half the price. Today that award of the private contract also came under scrutiny:..

Jamie Yearwood, security officer
"If you say you are privatizing, how only he knows about it. I believe that it should have gone up for bidding - the best man wins."

Audrey Matura Shepherd, President - CWU
"In the interview he made it clear that he believes that the present security department manager is the best person to do it and so this manager is given the opportunity to form his own company and take over the security work because he said in the interview that this gentleman has assured him that he can cut costs as to what it is, but no bidding process."

Speaking with Councilor Phillip Willoughby an hour ago he said that next week the council will lay out all its plans.