G.O.B. Open to Discussions about Paying Public Servant’s Increments Retroactively

Prime Minister John Briceño

Increments for public officers and teachers were unfrozen on April first. Today, the House of Representatives made that decision official, through an amendment to the Public Sector Emoluments and Allowances Reduction Act. But, will the Government of Belize pay public servants and teachers retroactively for the three years that their increments were frozen? Barrow is demanding that it be done. Here is how that debate went.

Prime Minister John Briceño

“This bill brings to an end the salary reduction and increment freeze as of first of April 2023. I cannot say how grateful we are on this side. Indeed we are sure those on the other side and the country on a whole should all be thankful to the public servants, our teachers and men and women in the uniform to be partners in the rebound and recovery of our nation as a result of the two pandemic that hit Belize, the COVID-19 pandemic and the UDP abuse pandemic.”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“The opposition certainly supports this bill to give the public officers their increments. But, if the government truly appreciates the public officers, has sincere gratitude for the sacrifices they have made for this country then we recommends that the increments not just be unfrozen but there be retroactive payments of the increments that the public officers did not get. It sounds good. It is a very pretty speech that you say in this honorable house but actions are always much better.”

Henry Charles Usher

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service

“If you ask the president of the PSU or any union member they will be clear to tell you that the leader of that previous administration said that those increments are foregone meaning yon uh the get it back ever. That is what they were told in 2020. We are freezing the increments are you are not getting it back. Well madam speaker when the Ministerial Union Negotiation Team consulted with the Joint Union Team back in 2021 when these matters were raised about the salary adjustments and increment freezing, I was very clear then and this year when we started that communication dialogue that we are going to look at the two years were the increments were frozen and we have agreed to do that. In fact we have said that we even to look at the three years Madam Speaker.”