Last night our headline story was about the removal of Ray Davis as the Labour Senator. That was the decision that the General Council of the National Trade Union Congress of Belize took after a motion to vote on whether the members were satisfied with his performance. An easy majority of the 25 representatives voted that they were not satisfied - and so the long embattled Davis will be replaced. But there are those within the labour movement who take the view that he was being dismissed without just cause having been established - and "just cause" is one of the cornerstone principles for trade unionism in general.
Today in Punta Gorda, we asked NTUCB Vice President Audrey Matura-Shepherd about his departure. She's the first one who went public and said he has to resign or be removed - but today she stressed that it was a group decision:
Audrey Matura-Shepherd, 2nd Vice President - NTUCB
"Let me tell you, all I say about that is within our union, democracy prevails and clearly I was not the sole vote. It was an overwhelming majority. I know Channel 7 always gets the scoop because we have the traitors within who always leak the information. So go interview them. But the official word comes from our president Mr. Marvin Mora, who I support and I am just but one vote in votes that go in the double digits."
Daniel Ortiz
"How would you answer to the critics that Mr. Ray Davis, who is a career senator, a career legislator has been railroaded by this last section of his tenure, last serving as the senator for labor?"
Audrey Matura-Shepherd, 2nd Vice President - NTUCB
"I don't have to answer to the critics. They are just that, critics - who have an interest to serve. It is a dangerous thing when the Prime Minister of this country has only praises for the senator for the unions. That speaks volumes as to where we were going."
Other members of that group are seen in this facebook picture celebrating with thumbs up after the meeting - under the caption, "We Did It" - presumably referring to sending Davis packing.
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