More Contributions May be Outstanding; is it ex-City Admin’s Fault?

But who was responsible for making the payments to the S.S.B.? That, says Deputy Mayor Oscar Arnold, was the responsibility of Candice Miller, the former City Administrator, who was initially placed on suspension for dereliction of duties before she was dismissed earlier this month. Arnold says that the Finance Department is verifying if contributions for January and February, 2018, prior to the municipal elections, have been paid. 

Oscar Arnold, Deputy Mayor, Belize City

“At the end of the day, the buck stops at the City Administrator’s desk. We have a Director of Finance, we has a finance team and they would send up payments that are supposed to be made on behalf of the council. However, the onus lies at the City Administrator’s desk when there is a cash crunch to decide which expenses to pay or which one they would probably differ until a later date.”

Oscar Arnold

Duane Moody

“But this one is super important because it is for the wellbeing of your employees…”

Oscar Arnold

“Agreed, agreed. If employees go to Social Security for some benefit, it may not be honored. We don’t know. But all indications are that it would not be honored if their contributions are not up to date. And again, it is a legal requirement so I really can’t tell you why these weren’t paid.”

Duane Moody

“If November and December weren’t paid, what of January and February?”

Oscar Arnold

“Very good question. Again, we have asked our accounting team to look at it, to tell us exactly if those are there outstanding. We have been making our payments. When I say that, for the pay periods that we’ve been there. if you notice, like I said some payments have gone towards the seventy-seven thousand because the balance is at thirty-four thousand.”