Acting PM Says Pay Cuts Were Difficult Decision

Cordel Hyde

And, while teachers and public servants will feel the pinch of the salary deduction in their next paycheck, Deputy PM Cordel Hyde says he too is feeling pain and discomfort. Hyde noted that this is the first time in history of Belize’s independence that the salaries of public officers are being cut, an act which he says brings him no joy.

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister

“Whenever we are pitted on a side that is opposed to the unions, that is never easy for us. If you listen to the speeches, the honorable David Mckoy was a trade union leader in the 1950’s. That is the roots of the People’s United Party. In fact the first elections in the 1950 were run with the People’s United Party in coalition with the General Workers Union. Whenever we are in opposing sides with the Union, that is never a good thing. That is supposed to make every warm-blooded People’s United Party member uncomfortable. And so it certainly made me uncomfortable. I could not hide that. I made that known wherever I went. And even our Cabinet room, I made it known that is how I felt. But I also understand the circumstances we are in is unprecedented.  We are living in really difficult times, and we had to make difficult decisions. No government in their right mind would want to cut salaries six months into their term. Not even six years in your term you would want to be doing that. And truth be told, in the forty years of independence history of this country we have never cut the salaries of public officers and teachers. This is the first. So this was painful and uncomfortable.”