But while Matura may disagree about the status of the labour matters, as far as First Caribbean is concerned, the agreement has been duly signed and that's that. So at 5:00 pm today, First Caribbean formally closed the curtains on its commercial operations in Belize. And now, behind the scenes computer systems administrators will be working furiously over the next 48 hours to transfer all operations to Hertiage Bank so that thousands of account holders can have a seamless transition - one where they will retain the same account numbers. They have also been given new bank and credit cards for Heritage. And, as of Sunday January 31st, the transition to Heritage should be completed. Today, country manager Glen Smith told us that even though they are saying goodbye - they won't leave their workers out in the cold. He discussed the job opportunities for workers abroad.
Glenn Smith, Country Manager - FCIB
"For my employees - on behalf of the bank's management, both the local management committee and the regional executive committee, it's a difficult time for us. We have been in Belize since 1949. It's not easy to leave, so it's difficult for us. We have sought to do whatever we can do to make the transition more tolerable for our staff. We continue to work with our staff in that regard to assist in all the ways that we can possibly afford to do so and as we have extended to the staff that if ever there have made a decision that they wish to relocate to a territory outside of Belize where a vacancy exist that we are not adverse to considering them for employment into those other territories. We will miss Belize and we are never ruling out the possibility that we may one day returned to Belize under different set of circumstances. But for the time being we are just simply saying farewell. I don't know long it will last. The relationships that we have built over the years should serve is a lifetime. I have encourage the staff to treasure these relationships. Relationships should not be dependent upon you having total agreement with somebody every time, you will have disagreement and you will need those to strengthen and make you grow as a person."
About 30 employees have gotten job offers from Heritage Bank and a few are already working with Heritage. First Caribbean is the successor to Barclay's Bank which had been in Belize since 1949.
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