Friday, May 21, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 NO. 3462 BELIZE CITY, FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 (36 PAGES) $1.50 Borders Gruesome daylight opened for city murder tourists only BELIZE CITY, Thurs. May of less than 24 hours. Last night, 20, 2021 Marquin Drury was fatally wounded At high noon today, a 19- in a drive-by shooting. year-old was shot multiple Unconfirmed reports are that times and left for dead in the Castillo was pursued by his assailant, Fabers Road Extension area. then executed in cold blood near a Stephan Castillo, the mechanic shop on Fabers Road, not victim of this most recent far from the police sub-station in that Belize City murder, is the area. second person to be shot to death in the city within a span Please turn toPage 29 Unions stage funeral procession for corruption BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 19, 2021 On Tuesday, May 18, members of the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) and the Public Service Union (PSU) staged mock funeral BELIZE CITY, Thurs. May 20, 2021 processions — a symbolic form of Today Cabinet released an update protest that is a marked departure on matters that were discussed and from the blockades that had been set decisions that were made during its up on the previous day to prevent the regular session meeting, which took flow of traffic on roads and highways place on May 18, 2021. In that press countrywide. They marched along the release, the public was informed that streets, carrying a coffin, as they pretended to engage in funeral rites Please turn toPage 30 Please turn toPage 31 PM replies PGIA employees Belize seeks extension to unions stage walkout for bond payment BELIZE CITY. Thurs. May 20, 2021 The government of Belize issued a press release on May 19, 2021, in which it informed the public that it had sent an official request, known as a “Consent Solicitation,” to the holders of Belize’s Super-bond, for an extension of the grace BELMOPAN. Wed. May 19, 2021 period for the May 20, 2021 coupon payment, which A letter was sent by the Prime was due today. Minister, Hon. John Briceño, to the The government is (See story on page 2) asking for an extension Please turn toPage 31 Please turn toPage 30 Man killed in drive-by Ongoing gang rivalry claims shooting (See story on page 29) life of Kirk Gordon (See story on page 29) Page 2 AMANDALABelize Friday, May 21, 2021 PGIA employees stage walkout (From page 1) by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) the staff, even though they proceeded on strike, sufficient staff remained in LADYVILLE, Belize District, Wed. place to ensure that all aircraft that May 19, 2021 were inside of Belize’s air space On Wednesday, an unexpected either landed safely or exited Belizean walkout was staged by several air air space. Therefore, there were no traffic controllers and other staff disruption of services in that regard. members of the Philip Goldson At approximately 12:36 p.m., we International Airport (PGIA). Reports activated our contingency plan. This indicate that the Civil Aviation contingency plan ensured that the Department had to put into action a Central American Region Control contingency plan to ensure that Center would have insured that all en- services remained uninterrupted and route air traffic control services on schedule at the airport due to the would be provided, notwithstanding sudden act of protest orchestrated on we had staff at the air traffic control the premises of the PGIA. available to ensure that aircraft landed The walkout was reportedly staged safely at the PGIA. At approximately in response to the Department’s 12:51 p.m. we had sufficient staff in decision to give four air traffic both the air traffic control approach controllers letters of intended center as well as the aerodrome days now to the Labour Department incident. Had I known I would have disciplinary measures this week due control center to ensure that Belize had and the Minister of Labour, which been on the ground certainly, but to their failure to arrive at work on full control of all its air space. During would then allow for those public unfortunately I was not informed until time last Saturday. The executives of the event I have to reiterate that there officers at the office of the Civil it was actually happening, But, the Department interpreted this as an was no threat to safety during the event Aviation to proceed on whatever nonetheless, I reached out to the act of sabotage in support of the and there were no delays to any industrial actions that they want to members already, and I have informed ongoing industrial actions orchestrated aircraft,” Carter said. support,” Henry told Amandala. them that if it is that they’re going to by the PSU and Joint Unions to express According to Carter, there was a He went on to say, “Nonetheless it be disciplined in any way, shape, or their opposition to government’s meeting with the staff in early May at appears that is what was the situation form, that they present those letters to reduction of the salaries of public which the staff was informed that the there, and the staff decided that they the union, and we will have our officers and teachers. While 1st vice Civil Aviation Department was aware have the right, as the government itself Industrial Relations Officer along with president of the PSU, Dean Flowers, of the public officers’ right to partake has been saying, to engage in industrial my personal lawyer who has offered has publicly stated that Saturday’s in industrial action, but that the action, so why, then, are they his time to represent these individuals. events were in no way coordinated contingency plan must remain in place. considering disciplinary actions to be He has offered his services pro bono by the union, the union came out in The Minister then thanked once again taken against them?…It is very so that those officers will be properly full force, wearing their yellow shirts the members of staff who did remain unfortunate that I did not know of the defended if we need to go that route.” in support of the four employees who on-hand to ensure that services were “unjustly” sent on leave and the continued and to show that the PGIA employees who went on strike at has a backup plan to ensure safety and midday. continuity of operations when it is Belize adds Sinopharm to In the aftermath of what occurred, forced to deal with such unexpected the Ministry of Blue Economy and events. vaccine program Civil Aviation hosted a virtual press The Director opted not to address conference, at which Hon. Andre the contents of the letters he received Perez and the Director of the Civil from the four air traffic controllers by Dayne Guy Aviation Department, Nigel Carter, because, he said, “It is an internal outlined the sequence of events as matter that we need to clear up within BELMOPAN, Tues. May well as the department’s quick the government of Belize, with the 18, 2021 response in order to keep the airport’s Public Services Commission, with the Prior to receiving the operations running smoothly. Ministry of the Public Service and the World Health At the start of the conference, Hon Department of Aviation.” However, he Organization’s (WHO) Perez stated, “There was an attempt did say that, contrary to the sentiments emergency approval, the to disrupt air traffic services at the of the PSU, the Department is not Sinopharm vaccine was PGIA. I can report that services were engaging in a “witch-hunt” against already being widely used not interrupted, and flights continue to union members. across the globe. Doses of arrive and depart as scheduled. Our The president of the PSU, Mr. this vaccine, produced by team are fully aware of the impending Gerald Henry, told Amandala that he the Beijing Bio-Institute of threat of such actions, as we was not present at the PGIA on Biological Products Co. Ltd. (BIBP), attempt to secure COVID-19 vaccine understand that some of the staff are Wednesday because he was not will now be included in the vaccine doses for the citizenry. The Ministry members or are sympathetic to the informed of the protest due to “internal supply being used by the national of Health and Wellness also continues calls of the unions. That is their right political conflict” within the union. vaccination program in Belize. to encourage persons who are eligible and their prerogative, but as the Despite being left in the dark, Early in April, 2021, Belize to visit a healthcare center to be Ministry of Civil Aviation it is our however, Mr. Henry reached out to his received a donation of 10,000 doses vaccinated. The vaccination program responsibility to ensure that these members regarding the matter to show of the Sinopharm vaccine from the is currently at phase three and allows essential services remain his support. United Arab Emirates (UAE). Belize, for persons 50 and over, and persons uninterrupted and safe.” “From what I was informed, the however, delayed deployment of the living with a comorbidity, as well as The remainder of the discussion incident occurred because of some vaccine, while it awaited proper other authorized groups to get was then handed over to Mr. Carter, disciplinary action that was approval and authentication from the vaccinated. who explained that within a span of a considered by the office against some world’s leading health agency. The ministry further reiterated the few minutes, notifications came from of the workers there, because they had Since Sinopharm’s inclusion on the importance of following set protocols.