Senator Smith: We Do Not Agree to Link Discussions on Increments to Pension Reform

Senator Elena Smith

Belize National Teachers’ Union President, Senator Elena Smith told the media that the discussions were frank and cordial, but that no definitive conclusions have yet been met. But one thing is for sure: the unions are not in agreement with the linking of the unfreezing of increments with pension reform.

Senator Elena Smith, President, B.N.T.U

“We are not agreeing to link anything to any pension reform. Our people have already worked for those increments. They were taken away from them. They have been appraised throughout all of these years, you know, since they freeze, so there’s no additional thing to do in terms of just unfreezing.”

Reporter

“Okay. So moving forward though, do you think that they’ll make the appraisal process more rigorous because the Prime Minister is suggesting that there will be something new.”

Senator Elena Smith

“Well, I’m not sure in terms of the public service what will look like, but we know that there has been discussions as it relates to the accuracy, if you will, in terms of whether the appraisal that we currently have, whether that is providing accurate information scores on our performance. So from our end, I can speak to, from our end, there has been a talk of revising the appraisal instrument.”