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Jules Vasquez, 7News
"What motions was tabled or taken to the floor at today's meeting? Which were passed and what does it mean for the PSU going forward?"

Eldred Neal, President, Public Service Union
"Well we had a very spirited meeting must I say and I want to congratulate all the members who came out. The one motion that was passed, that was tabled was that the union are to render a voice. Whether it's a communique in terms of a press release or it's a communique amongst membership, that we are in solidarity with the number of national issues BNTU is presently standing up on. We know of all these issues. We've been following it closely. The entire country has been and in fact we are in full support of those issues. Where we deferred some was in the area in terms of the action, in terms of the timeline. Where BNTU is at this point is that their membership has spoken and they've gone through the process. We are now doing so, but yes Belize branch particularly are in support of at least 6 of the 8 points that BNTU has spoken to and in fact we do want to see a better governance. We do want to see the Integrity Commission, we do want to see the 13th Senator, we do want to see the passing of the Convention on Anti-corruption. What are a next salient point that BNTU brought up?"

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"The removal of Mr. Hulse."

Eldred Neal, President, Public Service Union
"We did not even brought that up in our session today and that's why they shared their voices on the specifics and in fact that was not one of the issues that we discussed that we are moving along with. They are that stage where they are saying the time for action is now and they stand in support of a couple of those issues that BNTU presented."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Is action industrial action?"

Eldred Neal, President, Public Service Union
"Again, I reiterate, PSU is not at that stage as yet. We are not prepared to stand in protest with BNTU. We are going through the process. We will get to whatever position on the eventual."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"Now not the 8 causes, but if you read the letter of their cause for industrial action, it talks again about the 3%. Are you all revising the 3%? Because the letter they sent, the chief education officer says, proposal 22 and the 3%. You all had already taken a national decision that you all are in support of a defferal. Are you all also revisiting that? Because that is the teachers cause for industrial action."

Eldred Neal, President, Public Service Union
"No, we've not ventured in that area today. We spent the time today looking at the clarity around how we came to that position, because whilst our decision came from membership through branch settings, through this forum, we are not only targeting branch members now. Remember the union encapsules the entire public service. What we've done, we've now opened up these sessions, not just to branch members, but to all public officers across the country so that we can hear their concerns and their views. Because of course, the consultations that we did were done by branch members and I've heard and the media has ran with it, a lot about decisions being made by myself without consultation. That has never been done and that is the clarity that I'm bringing across to those who are outside the immediate union family, who are also public officers, who will also be affected."

Jules Vasquez, 7News
"However you have more than 50 public officers in Belize City and only 50 plus were here today. So obviously something wrong with either the turn out or the consultative system or something, because you leave here with a mandate from Belize District. But only 50 people came out."

Eldred Neal, President, Public Service Union
"Again, such is the nature of our democracy. Fortunately or unfortunately the meeting was open to all public officers and individuals may say well I didn't know and I didn't hear. The point is it was open to all public officers."

Neal will now go on a lightning round of national consultations which ends in Punta Gorda on Friday afternoon. He says that after that his union will have a firm position. He stressed thought that as president he is not inclined to change course in the middle of an ongoing negotiation.

The three utility unions continue to meet at this hour.