Basil Brannon
Chief Shop Steward Basil Brannon, who represents employees of the Central Bank of Belize, also agrees that it is time for the Christian Workers Union to revamp its administration. While he remains optimistic that change will come, Brannon admits that a forensic audit of the union’s expenditure over the past ten years may not be a fruitful undertaking since there has been no treasurer to oversee its books and record the collection of union dues.
Basil Brannon, Chief Shop Steward, Central Bank of Belize
“Like the stevedores, we are the same, but they got process that we need to go through. We can’t just kick somebody out. We have to make sure that our financials are in place and stuff like that. So that is what we did and we came and compromised on two months before we move forward so that they can get their financials in place.”
Reporter
“So the discussion has been that there has been no financials for years. How do you look into something like that?”
Basil Brannon
“That’s a good question. I think with a little bit of auditing we can see how far we can go with that. Without record there is nothing much that we can do.”
Reporter
“Would a forensic audit be fruitful at this point?”
Basil Brannon
“Maybe not, but we need to at least look that direction to see how far we can go.”
Reporter
“We’ve also noticed that it’s been some years since there has actually been an election for the executive. What has that discussion upstairs yielded?”
Basil Brannon
“We also want to do a four years; every four years we have a general election and everything like that because over the past ten years there has been an election. We have to change our constitution to start with…that we didn’t even know existed.”
Reporter
“Do you believe that Mister Antonio Gonzalez has served the CWU efficiently in these past years?”
Basil Brannon
“Umm, you have to give them man some kinda credit—he was there for a while—so yes, but it is time to move on.”
Reporter
“Do you agree with the delayed resignation?”
Basil Brannon
“Actually we asked and I was adamant about that that we don’t let people just resign just like that. We need to let them be accountable for what they are doing. so we need an audit and then move on from there with an AGM.”
Reporter
“So if an audit is conducted during his tenure and it doesn’t satisfy what you are looking for, then what are the recourses against them?”
Basil Brannon
“Well when that is done then we can say. But for right now, we hope that the books are good and we move forward from there.”
Reporter
“Who is the treasurer?”
Basil Brannon
“That’s just it; we don’t really have a treasurer.”
View the full article