By Belize Live News Staff: The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) has publicly invited the Belize Peace Movement (BPM) to collaborate on the pressing issue of redistricting, amidst criticism from the BPM over the unions’ perceived lack of support.
The BPM, spearheading the call for electoral boundary redrawing, has urged labor unions to exert pressure on the government to initiate the process. However, their attempts to galvanize the unions have met with limited success, prompting the BPM to express its frustration in recent media appearances.
Responding to the criticism, NTUCB President Luis Martinez reiterated the union’s openness to dialogue. “The National Trade Union Congress has an open-door policy,” Martinez affirmed. “We don’t close our doors to any stakeholder, and the Belize Peace Movement knows that fully well.” He urged the BPM to engage directly with the NTUCB rather than relying on media appeals for solidarity.
Martinez emphasized that the NTUCB had previously expressed its support for the BPM’s redistricting campaign through a press release and remains committed to that stance. He also highlighted the potential for broader collaboration on good governance issues beyond redistricting, such as campaign finance reform and whistleblower protection.
The BPM hopes to see the redistricting exercise completed before the next general elections.
