While that protest is scheduled for Friday in Belmopan, it will be a little too late to disrupt the House Meeting, since the sitting will be held on Thursday. Also missing is the kind of momentum we saw earlier this year when the Speednet acquisition was still on the table. So what is the NTUCB's expectation for Friday? We asked Waight:
Reporter:
"What is your expectations for the protest on Friday? I know there's mumblings on social media, but I don't feel personally that there is a momentum that was there when the BTL issue was still hot on the table. So what's your expectation?"
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB
"Remember that proposition took all of us, all Belizeans, at a point where we said if we have to hit the streets, that is what we'll do. And yes, there was a momentum, but we keep looking at the NTUCB: we are not there to protest-that's not what we wanted to achieve. We achieved what we wanted to achieve; they did not go ahead with the acquisition. It was more important for us to say just make demands of making permanent change, long-lasting, long-term change-that's what we're here for. And we don't just do that with national issues, and I'm so sad there's not an opportunity for NTUCB to sit down with the media to explain to you what we're doing when we talk about labor movement work, about work that will directly impact workers. We need that opportunity with the media, not just national issues, because there's a lot going on with the NTUCB. But going back to your question: so yes, that momentum was there, but we felt it more important to do the demands to ensure we have meaningful change. What to expect on Friday? I am not sure; I'm not a mind reader. My hope is that Belizeans, instead of going behind these things and typing their discontent, that they do show up-especially those that can show up that are in Belmopan."
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