Opposition Leader Supports Competitive Salaries for Judiciary But Says Public Officers Increments Should Be Priority

On Tuesday, the joint unions raised hell over reports of salary increases for Justices of the High Court of Justice in Belize. This information came via a January ninth, 2023, Ministry of Finance memorandum with news that the base salary for Justices of the High Court has been increased to one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. Well, tonight, there are reports of further increases for Justices of the High Court. A Ministry of Finance memorandum, dated February eight, outlines an increase to the tax-free base salaries of the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeals, and Justices of the Court of Appeals. The memo is signed by Financial Secretary Joseph Waight. It puts the Chief Justice’s base salary at two hundred and forty thousand dollars, the President of the Court of Appeal’s salary at two hundred thousand dollars, and the base salary for Justices of the Court of Appeal at one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars. Leader of the Opposition, Shyne Barrow, gave us his take on these increases.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition 

“They pay what they want to pay, whether it is the raising for the justices, which I principally do no disagree with. I do believe that everyone should be compensated and compensated fairly. My largest issue with the Briceño Administration has always been prioritization. They can’t have everything at the same time. So, a prudent government will prioritize. And, I do believe that the unions, that the public officers are ahead of the justices. Again, to make it clear I do agree, fundamentally, principally, with paying wages to the justices that are competitive so that we have the best. A strong judiciary is essential, crucial to a strong democracy. So, it is not that I wish to deprive the government from getting the best justices on the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the others courts.”