By: Omar Silva, NP Staff Writer

Belize City, Friday, 5th May 2023

The Port of Belize is at a standstill once again, with a cargo ship carrying up to two hundred containers idly waiting to be offloaded for delivery to customers across the country. The Christian Workers Union (CWU), which represents the stevedores, and the Port of Belize Limited (PBL) are at odds once more, and everyone is losing money.

According to the CWU President, Evan 'Mose' Hyde, dockworkers are being turned away from their respective shifts to discharge the anchored vessel, which is a result of PBL breaking an existing contract in the face of the Essential Services Act. Hyde alleges that this illegal refusal is compromising the contract and the Essential Services Act and has expressed his disappointment in the Ministry of Labour for not intervening in the situation.

Ted Peralta, the CEO of PBL, expressed his disappointment in the breakdown of negotiations and said that the CWU decided on its own to go back on an arrangement that was already slated for discussion. The attempt to revert to the unproductive arrangement of one gang, one ship, places the Port of Belize in a difficult situation with only one container gang working a vessel for fifteen hours. The vessel then leaves the quay and returns nine hours later for operations to resume.

Peralta also touched on the decision of the Essential Services Tribunal to have both parties discuss a settlement in a previous matter. He said that the economic loss is across the board, and it's not just to PBL. They are open to dialogue and negotiation with the CWU to reach a consensus on how to move forward.

The CWU President, 'Mose' Hyde, said that the stevedores have nothing to do with the shutdown of the work on the waterfront. He claims that the refusal of entry to the waterfront workers is unlawful since it flouts the Essential Services Act. Hyde says that they approached the shipping agent directly and struck a deal that was mutually beneficial. The Port of Belize took that good faith agreement and made it mandatory.

The ongoing dispute between the Port of Belize and the CWU is causing a significant loss of revenue for all parties involved. It is crucial that both sides come to the table to discuss and negotiate a resolution that is in the best interest of everyone involved. The economic loss is not just to PBL, but it's also impacting the stevedores and the customers who are waiting to receive their goods.

It's time for both parties to put aside their differences and work towards a solution that benefits everyone. The stevedores deserve the opportunity to earn a living, and the customers deserve the goods they have ordered. The Port of Belize needs to negotiate in good faith with the CWU to ensure that the containers are discharged, and the items are delivered to the consumers of Belize at the minimum cost to everybody.

In conclusion, it's time to cut the chase and come to an agreement that benefits everyone involved. The Port of Belize and the CWU must work together to ensure that the Port continues to move forward hassle-free.