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One other issue which Matura-Shepherd chose to comment on is the position that the Belize Communication Workers Union has taken in relation to the BTL settlement between the Barrow Administration and Lord Michael Ashcroft. As we told you, that bill has been passed into law, and so, the Government and BTL will have to pay at least 162 million dollars to Ashcroft related companies and trusts as payment in compensation for their appropriation the telecoms company back in 2009.

Last night, Matura-Shepherd said that as fellow trade unionists, they side with the Communication Workers Union:

Audrey Matura Shepherd, President - CWU

"We stand in solidarity with the workers at BTL. It is not only because of the wrong that has happened to them but also because as a nation, it is an issue that has not properly been ventilated. It is clear cut from day one; you cannot take someone's property and not have to pay for it. So we knew there were would have been a payment. In fairness, this was something that affected not only government who took and the former owner who said they own; but also the small shareholders and the employees who for ions we have been hearing there is an employee trust. But an employee trust that employees have never elected who are their representatives on board, have never gotten an accounting as to their money, have never known what is really theirs; although their names are being used as employee trust. It has been controlled by Mr. Ashcroft for who appointed Mr. Dean Boyce.

"I think in fairness, if the government genuinely wanted to move forward, they could have not ignored the interest of the employees. Another factor with the employees you have to notice is that at the end of the day; even though the government if fronting the initial money, it will come out of the money of BTL. That has an impact on shareholders who were never consulted as to how this agreement would go. And it will have the impact on workers because then it means that we will go into negations of CBAs and that burden of a payment; because it is a burden of a payment. Mr. Ashcroft has gotten away with a handsome amount, whether people want to admit it or not. There is 6 years interest that is not coming out of the government pocket, who made the mistake to not settle this 6 years earlier; it's going to come out of BTL and there is an unknown still amount to be paid in addition to the 162 million dollars."

"I am glad that they also broke their silence because everybody got the impression that all was well at BTL."