Senator Smith Says Public Officers Punishing While PM Gets New Furniture

Elena Smith

Elena Smith, Senator for the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, also weighed in on the financial debate. Smith took issue with the personal emoluments that are listed, as well as the monies being allocated to refurbish the office of the Prime Minister. Smith says teachers and public servants are suffering and gas prices are increasing, while the Prime Minister’s office is spending on new furniture.

Elena Smith, Senator for the Unions

“I can clearly recall that there was a moratorium on hiring, because things were not good and we couldn’t afford, so there was a moratorium there. But, I see that we have funds set aside for personal emoluments. I am being told that we are requesting more funds and I understand that there are new persons being hired. Well, I came here today and I saw a new person here, so I don’t know if that is a new hire or if that is an old person that came back, I don’t know. But, in any event we heard about the Director of Public Prosecution, we are hearing about honorariums. Yet, Madam President, a year ago, the same people who are coming to say that these people need to get their honorariums came to me and said my colleagues that we must sacrifice, because all of us must share in the pain. So, how is it that all of us were to share in the pain but not all of us can share in the honorariums? It cannot be. You can’t tell me that I must sacrifice while others are gaining, and we are all working.  We are suffering, we are punishing. Some of our colleagues can barely meet their bills, barely provide for their families, yet we see these things coming before us. My colleague spoke about gas prices going up, food prices as well. With all my sacrifices, I am not seeing anything coming back, at least not yet. That is why when we go through this supplementary and we hear of these things such as the Prime Minister’s office for repairs and for furniture, upgrade of building, and I spoke to this the last time, that indeed a lot of our building have not been properly kept, and they do need some repairs, but here we need two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to repair, and forty five thousand nine twenty eight dollar purchase office furniture and equipment. It made us wonder Madam President if the past Prime Minister probably took all the furniture from there and equipment so we are left to buy new ones. What am I left to think if we don’t have all the details?”