Prime Minister Says Unions Premature in Comments on Restoring Pay

John Briceño

When we caught up with Prime Minister John Briceño on Ambergris Caye today, we asked him to confirm if Cabinet is in fact prepared to restore the ten percent salary cut. Prime Minister John Briceño says he is not opposed to the restoring it, but Cabinet must first take a close look at the country’s fiscal position.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“Maybe they are being a little bit premature. But, what we have to do is, uhm, the DPM and Minister Fonseca, along with Minister Henry Charles, they are going to be reporting to Cabinet today. And then, we are going to be discussing. Remember, giving back the full ten percent we are looking at sixty million dollars more in cost. Then, if we are looking at cutting in fuel then we are going to be completely out of whack. So, we have to find that balance. Mind you, I am not in any way opposed to giving back the ten percent, but we have to look at what is in front of us, the financial crisis that small countries like ours are facing.”