But the President Marvin Mora did issue a statement this evening discussing the theme of this year's observance, which is "Celebrating the Belizean Worker- the Back Bone of the Belizean Economy".

The three page statement says, quote, "the NTUCB will continue to advocate for the respect of the rights of the workers in our country and commit that we will not sit idly by whilst our brothers are being taken advantage of." He laments that The Public Accounts Committee is still being run by a chair from the Ruling Party when it clearly contravenes the act and that Government has taken over an entire year without even a proposed date when public consultations should start in relation to the Occupational Safety and Health Bill! As for Petrocaribe, the statement says, quote, "The NTUCB wants to be absolutely clear that we are not against the acquisition of the Petro Caribe Funds and its original intent as agreed to between the Government of Venezuela and Belize. By this same token, we take this opportunity to thank the Venezuelan Government and its courageous people for all the support they have lent our country."