7 News Belize

NTUCB President, Not President?
posted (May 17, 2017)

For the past two nights we’ve been telling you all about the problems in the PSU where nine members of the council of management are calling for President Eldred Neal to resign.  It’s because of remarks he made in a conversation with two union colleagues.  That conversation was secretly recorded - and in it Neal is heard making prejudicial remarks against the Garinagu in general, and specific members of the public service and his council of management who are Garifuna.  And while that is what's happening in the foreground, in the background to all this is a fight for control of the National trade Union Congress of Belize.  We're told that The PSU Delegate Jackie Willoughby raised at a meeting that recently elected president Flyd Neal could not hold that post.  Here’s why:

Jules Vasquez
"As far you are concerned is there a president of the NTUCB right now?"

Eldred Neal, President - PSU
"Elected, no."

Jules Vasquez
"So Floyd Neal in your opinion is not the duly elected president of the NTUCB?"

Eldred Neal
"Floyd Neal by the constitution of the national trade union congress is not the duly elected member."

Jules Vasquez
"And is that because he's not a fully paid of member - his union is not a fully paid of member of the NTUCB?"

Eldred Neal
"We have tried to strategize to keep this matter on annul but in this kind of hostile environment it's out there, we all know. You have known before me coming here. The matter needed to be tabled and we had suggested a hundred and one ways in which we could have. At the time of the election Floyd Neal was overwhelmingly supported. His legibility or illegibility which one of the words is it? Of being financial at the time came into question and that's why, that's the precise question that was asked and if it was not and if he was not the constitution speaks to a person being financially paying to run for any post."

Jules Vasquez
"Floyd Neal can't be president of the NTUCB because he's not a fully paid of member."

Marvin Mora - BEWU, General Secretary
"You know actually that is something for the NTUCB to discuss right but I will say this right-"

Jules Vasquez
"But is that a fact that he's not a fully paid of member?"

Marvin Mora
"That is not a fact, that is an interpretation that he gave to-"

Jules Vasquez
"It's either you pay or you don't pay Marvin."

Marvin Mora
"Well if you pay and your payment was accepted, you paid right?"

Jules Vasquez
"But if the cheque bounced you did not pay."

Marvin Mora
"But if you cleared the cheque?"

Eldred Neal
"No matter how you paint it a cheque distributed at any point is only merited on the grounds that it can be cashed. Was he financial? And that is the question that has us here and if you believe this is my way of swinging the matter away from edited statements that were put out there to tarnish my name and my character then I ask you, I challenge you to tell me otherwise what in earth can I gain by going after the group of people that supported me as president?"

Tomorrow, we’ll have more from our extended conversation with Eldred Neal where speaks about the fleecing of the PSU.




7News for Wednesday, May 17th, 2017 from 7News Belize on Vimeo.

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