GOB replies to union requests

As promised, the Government of Belize has responded to suggestions made by the NTUCB on where new tax revenues can be found and other proposals under the category of good governance. While that response has come in too late to reproduce in its entirety, in general it accepts most of the recommendations, which include more active efforts to collect from delinquent taxpayers, tightening up on development concessions and EPZs and creating a union seat on the Central Bank board of directors. Where there are legal barriers to specific proposals the GOB response points out those limitations. While the government’s attitude in the document appears conciliatory, it is not clear how central these additional union demands are to their cause, which remains centered on promised wage increases and the rollback of taxes. We are not aware of any change in GOB’s attitude toward what the unions claim are non-negotiable demands.