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The PUP’s minister investment home affairs – previously called minister finance – prime minister, major power brokers party, decided country should function like corporation pushed through an amendment Belize Constitution change names permanent ministerial secretaries chief executive officers (CEOs). writing on wall.

When last office over five years earlier, PUP had privatized electric telecommunications authorities. Since taking office time, have privatized water authority, port authority, government printing office airport contracted out management prison.

Part their platform, coming into office, pledge transparency; nevertheless, these privatization deals have been made secret with disclosure. No one seems quite sure where money went, if fact much actual money changing hands. deals have been fraught with cronyism nepotism.

We know foreign companies now own utilities – electricity Canadians, water British South Africans. And many government ministers, their relatives friends appear doing quite well. Though premium gas costs around US$5, are running around brand new SUVs.

In late January, when seemed little left sell loans were coming due, PUP passed bill hike taxes. They cut subsidies schools further delayed wage increases public employees teachers had already been negotiated.

The people, with an alliance unions chamber commerce, went out on strike, closing schools carrying on "slowdown" actions over week. Had government collected money some their "sacred cows," deficits would have been much decreased. But didn't happen.

Though strike ended "business usual" resumed, Belize had turned corner its history.

The latest protests came about after Belize Telecommunications Limited's 15-year monopoly expired government Belize claimed open telephone internet service competition. former major shareholder BTL, Lord Michael Aschroft, billionaire British conservative, wanted have another 15 years.

But government made backroom deal with Jeffrey Prosser Innovative Communications Company. ICC owner telecommunications system U.S. Virgin Islands said have made fortune questionable ways. Prosser promised purchase BTL if government would pass few laws giving him virtual monopoly.

Prosser failed pay money, government left holding note, accumulating interest daily. So Prosser’s ICC ousted BTL board, administration charging because he didn’t pay up, he did not own shares.

But Prosser did not go quietly. He went federal court Miami get back seats on board BTL. When judge levied contempt citation on government Belize amount US$50,000 per day – "to get prime minister's attention" – news backroom deals came light. BTL workers wanted an accounting.

On April 15, official reports charged fiberoptic cable Belmopan cut deliberate act sabotage, BTL switch failed. BTL staffers refused repair until critical BTL ownership matters are straightened out. government reported an expert brought take care problem. Nortel engineers flown from Mexico had system almost fully restored when, due another act sabotage, went down again.

The government claimed Belizeans could purchase BTL shares, BTL workers came forward with proposal just that. So did others, including Lord Ashcroft – with Carlisle Group E-com. Ashcroft came up with funds buy 25 percent BTL shares. government, while holding money shares one hand, "forgave" $12-$15 million back taxes Ashcroft holdings owed. And Ashcroft promised suspend proceedings London court over other BTL disputes.

The government claimed had set aside 37 percent shares BTL workers. But with Prosser contesting 51 percent, Ashcroft owning 25 percent workers being promised 37 percent, math did not work out.

On Friday, after several meetings, BTL employees made list five demands. They called 1) government transfer 37 percent BTL shares employees nominal sum; 2) BTL employee on board directors; 3) full disclosure documents contracts relating BTL, including agreement with E-com buyback agreement with Carlisle Holdings, Lord Ashcroft’s groups, agreement with Prosser's Innovative Communications Company; 4) BTL continue operate without interference Ashcroft Carlisle personnel but under direction current chief executive officer; 5) an aud inspection ordered chief justice.

By April 20, despite intermittent phone service, teachers announced their support BTL workers, who had supported them couple months earlier. That show solidarity mushroomed students St. John's College Junior College University Belize came out their classrooms rally alongside BTL workers, saying "It's necessary because authorities aren't listening need know Belizean citizens including youths believe Belizeans should own BTL." As passed other schools, shouted students leave classrooms join them.

As day progressed, demonstrators marched major BTL compound prime minister's house, hollering elections P.M.'s resignation. From there, moved block Belcan Bridge 4:45 p.m., stopping traffic asking motorists blow their horns support. At one point, when looked like police were going to remove demonstrators, dug in, many sitting down, started singing Belize's national anthem.

Christine Perriot, speaking other BTL employees, explained, "As have been saying, not only employees, has become national thing. country Belize."

As darkness fell, crowd moved downtown area, where around 25 30 stores businesses, including many known benefiting present government policies, were broken into looted. Local observers say most looting not day's demonstrators, but those out their own benefit.

No deaths were reported, but more than two dozen people were taken hospital with injuries. About 100 protestors looters were arrested.

Responding he usually does, Prime Minister Said Musa spoke nation on April 22, essentially blaming riots on political opposition. Dean Barrow, UDP opposition leader, replied blaming country's ills on PUP claiming Musa "disrespected" demonstrators.

On same day, Moses Sulph, U.B. student body president, arraigned on charges organizing taking part procession without permit, trespassing on compounds Pallotti Saint John's College damaging police vehicle. After entering plea not guilty, he met bail left courtroom crowd supporters chanted, "Free Moses! Free Moses!"

Meanwhile, members Public Service Union took up positions outside BTL compound Belize City. National PSU President Dylan Reneau said union had been absent forefront recent days, have been very much part resistance movement. He said PUP "a political party slander misinformation. We are not adept them countering what have been putting out, but will not break us. We have resolve are strong, are united and we will achieve end."

And public show protest, Zenoida Moya, PSU councilor, symbolically presented an award prime minister government – "Certificate Corruption." She said, "This certificate awarded prime minister government recognition – should have said 'in recognition outstanding participation mismanagement Belize's economy between August twenty-seventh, 1998 present.' ...

"(T)he public officers are very serious about this. We are also, much are employees government, are taxpayers, therefore taxes are paying their salaries. So it's circular flow, will not continue allow those people are called employers tell us how think, what do, because you may very well know, has been lot intimidation, so much intimidation some public officers are afraid."

George Gonzalez Mission District San Francisco, where he worked with Los Siete de La Raza United Prisoners' Union 1970s. Candy Gonzalez worked with Student Non–Violent Coordinating Committee 1960s with Drug Research Project San Francisco early 1970s. They are now citizens Belize. E-mail them geocanbz@netscape.net. Read their story about January protests www.sfbayview.com/012605/generalstrike012605.shtml.