Minister Cervantes on Unions Protest

Ramon Cervantes

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ramon Cervantes said today that in his view the unions are being unreasonable. Like his colleagues, Minister Cervantes will be taking a fifteen percent salary cut and fifty percent cut in his allowances. Minister Cervantes, as Area Representative for Orange Walk North, says these cuts are also affecting his constituents.

Ramon Cervantes, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

“As far as I know, I myself, I account for my monies. We have expenses. We fend for our communities. I think that is a very narrow-minded demand from them. I think you heard Ms Sharon Frazer, that she does not necessarily agree with that, on us especially. Look, they have cut our salaries, cut our allowances, and yet, the number of constituents are growing. I have an eight thousand persons constituency. I am not crying. But I have to see how I adjust. I must work with that. I have to see how I will continue serving my people and I am doing it. Just yesterday I was in one of the villages in the north meeting people and listening to them seeing how best I can help. Especially in these though times. So I think they need to be more rational in their demands that they are making. And also their whole realm of the reason for their strike. They need to be more rational and more with their feet on the ground.”

Reporter

“You are confirming that some of your salaries, some of your allowances goes back to your constituency.”

Ramon Cervantes

“Yes, it goes to the constituency. We are servants of the people. I can’t tell you how much I will spend today or tomorrow. Someone calls you and she had an accident, or someone will go through a surgery or someone needs food, you can’t deny that person. You have to see how best you can help and assist?”

Paul Lopez

“Is that not considered a conflict of interest in a sense? You are using allowances meant for you to serve in your capacity as minister; you are using it to serve your constituents.”

Ramon Cervantes

“It’s called achieving your goals in serving the people of Belize. The people who need the most. That is what it is called.”