The shutdown at the Port of Belize last week cost importers tens of thousands of dollars in time, inventory and business lost. Well now, government has acted to make sure it doesn't happen again. The Minister of Labour today signed a statutory instrument amending the section of the law that deals with settlement of disputes in Essential Services. The amended law will now deal with Port Services specifically. A release from the government says that the effect of this is to make it so that Port Services would be required to give 21 days notice before any industrial action can be taken. According to the release, this would, quote, "allow for early intervention by government into trade disputes and reduce the likelihood of lockout or strike."
President of the Christian Workers Union Audrey Matura Shepherd told us, quote, "sadly we learnt about the news this afternoon and so stevedores are being consulted for a response this Monday."
And while that's what Labour had to say - Capital's tune was very different. The Chamber of Commerce sent out a release this evening, quote, "congratulating Prime Minister Dean Barrow and his administration on the…signing of the Statutory Instrument." It adds that the Chamber has made representation through the Labour Advisory Board to include Port Services as an essential service. IT concludes, quote, "This SI was necessary and is much appreciated by the private sector."
We should note that the President of the Chamber is also the CEO of the Port of Belize.
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