P.M. Briceño Says P.S.U. President Dean Flowers Playing Politics

Prime Minister John Briceño

The Public Service Union is demanding that Prime Minister John Briceño lift the freeze on increments for public officers. Following the reinstatement of public officers’ full salary, the Government of Belize also moved to reinstate the deducted living and entertainment allowances for its C.E.O.’s. Prime Minister John Briceño explained that these allowances were slashed at the onset of the pandemic. As of recent, a decision was taken to reinstate that fifty percent. But, this was never made public until this week when a leaked circular, signed by the cabinet secretary, began making rounds. So, what does the prime minister think of the P.S.U.’s request to unfreeze their increments? He says that the union president Dean Flowers is playing politics.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“When we were looking at reinstating, we were thinking more of the ten percent cut. We were really not necessarily at that moment thinking about the cuts that the C.E.O.’s had to take. So it’s only fair to return what they were getting before the cuts. Who brought it to mind? I can’t tell you who brought it up, but the C.E.O.’s deal with the Cabinet Secretary and certainly the Cabinet Secretary then brought it to us and the Financial Secretary about them requesting that they get back what was cut from them, which was a fair thing to do. What you make of the backlash that is coming now. We are hearing form the President of the PSU saying, unfreeze the increments. I am not surprised from anything from the president of the Public Service Union. It is unfortunate that he can’t leave his politics aside and really look at the real work that we doing to improve the public service. But, that is ok. That is his opinion and we move forward.”