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G.O.B. is not budging – at least that is the news coming out of the unions. The government has flatly rejected their cost-cutting proposal and wants to push full steam ahead with the salary cut and increment freeze to reduce the wage bill by eighty million dollars. Earlier this week, the unions informed their members […]
Written on March 26, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
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Comments Off on G.O.B. Rejects Unions’ Proposals – Want to Proceed with Salary Cut & Increment Freeze
But it may not be a done deal. According to P.S.U.’s Dean Flowers, G.O.B. reached out to allow them a final chance to ventilate their reasons for their unwavering position. That meeting couldn’t happen today and has been pushed back for Monday – and we’ll tell you all about that next week. But you’ll remember […]
Written on March 26, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on G.O.B. to Meet with Unions; the Unions Won’t Budge on Measures for Now!
The country will have to wait for the reading of the budget for the new fiscal year 2021-2022 until April ninth. But today, Area Representative for Belmopan, Oscar Mira told the Belmopan City Council that it will be difficult. Mira suggested that it will be a tough budget to digest, but he was still hopeful […]
Written on March 24, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on G.O.B. Minister Says Reading of “Budget Will Be Difficult”
In the seemingly unrelenting gas price increases, Belizean consumers are being told once more by the Ministry of Finance that prices are going up. Today, they announced premium gasoline is having its biggest jump yet: one dollar and twenty-four cents per gallon. The new price, effective Tuesday, March twenty-third, will now be almost twelve dollars […]
Written on March 22, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Premium Gas Climbs Again; Nears $12 per Gallon
Like so many other organizations, the Inter-American Development Bank took its annual general meeting online this year. The Belize delegation to the three-day virtual event, which ended Sunday, was led by Prime Minister John Briceño. During the Prime Minister’s presentation, he underscored the importance of the I.D.B. Group’s support for small countries in the region […]
Written on March 22, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Regional / International |
Comments Off on Belize Joins Central American Delegates at I.D.B. Virtual A.G.M.
Opposition Leader Patrick Faber has come out in support of teachers and public officers in light of the proposed ten percent salary cut. For years, the former Minister of Education has had a contentious relationship with the unions, but now that the shoe is on the other foot he is once again in their corner. […]
Written on March 19, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Faber Supports Teachers Position; No to Salary Cuts
To make matters worse, the cost of living, particularly fuel, continues to inch upward. In the past four weeks, the price per gallon of regular, premium and diesel gasoline has increased considerably. Faber’s sharp criticism, however, comes after twelve years of the United Democratic Party being in office. During that time the Barrow administration was […]
Written on March 19, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured |
Comments Off on Faber Criticizes Briceño Administration Over Economy
Earlier this week we saw the branches of the Belize Nation Teachers Union hold simultaneous motorcades across the country to make a statement against the government’s proposed salary cut and increment freeze. Today, the Public Service Union staged its own motorcade in different parts of the country. The collective effort is to express their dissatisfaction […]
Written on March 19, 2021 | Posted in
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Featured |
Comments Off on P.S.U. holds motorcades
The prescription by the International Monetary Fund for Belize to implement stringent measures to turn the economy around is being rejected in favor of a homegrown economic recovery plan. While the Briceño administration intends to do things its way, Opposition Leader Patrick Faber says that the ideal approach to breathing new life into the dying […]
Written on March 19, 2021 | Posted in
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Featured |
Comments Off on Not So Fast on IMF Prescriptions Says Opposition Leader
The Central American L.P.G. companies of BWEL, Zeta Gas and Gas Tomza say that they have to ration out L.P.G. to supply the local market. According to the three companies, they have been getting inconsistent supply from the National Gas Company and they have been unable to meet the demands of the local market. Here’s […]
Written on March 19, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on BWEL, ZETA, GAS TOMZA claims shortage of LPG & blames NGC!
This evening News Five reached out to the National Gas Company for comment on the issue. Their spokesperson Daniel Gutierrez says that there is no shortage of supply of L.P.G. He says that they have been fulfilling their loads according to schedule for all their distributors. Here’s how he explains it: Via Phone: Daniel […]
Written on March 19, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places |
Comments Off on NGC says there is no shortage of LPG!
Auditor General Dorothy Bradley was in the crosshairs of the unions on Wednesday when they took aim at her and several others, including Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and Central Bank Governor Joy Grant. Bradley responded this afternoon by issuing a release correcting what she refers to as baseless assertions from the Public Service Union and […]
Written on March 18, 2021 | Posted in
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Miscellaneous,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Auditor General Responds to Unions’ Baseless Assertions
The reading of the national budget was scheduled for next Friday, March twenty-sixth. But today, word was circulating that it has been pushed back due to a request by the Public Service Union and other unions. Today, it was confirmed that the budget reading will be postponed by at least two weeks to allow for […]
Written on March 18, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Reading of the Budget Postponed!
Belizean drivers are about to get shocked at the pump again. Regular fuel will increase by a whopping eight-six cents on Friday. Drivers will now have to pay almost eleven dollars a gallon, ten dollars and ninety-two dollars to be exact. Just days ago, diesel drivers had to “tek di lick” when diesel increased by […]
Written on March 18, 2021 | Posted in
Economy |
Comments Off on Regular Gas Goes Up to Almost 11 Dollars per Gallon
First, the unions said both the U.D.P. and the P.U.P. had not done their jobs properly when in opposition. Now, they have called out the financial secretary for his own contribution to the fiscal disaster now confronting Belize. Joseph Waight has been the FinSec for three consecutive administrations. Despite this, the unions want him out. […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Joint Unions of Belize Call for Removal of FinSec Joseph Waight
The unions also referenced the Ministry of Natural Resources which has been famously described as a “hotbed of corruption.” They called for the replacement of Central Bank Governor Joy Grant, whose critical role, they say, is to ensure that the country does not lead down a path of debt unsustainability and mismanagement. Also, they are […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on The Unions Also Call for the Removal of Auditor General, Central Bank Governor
The press conference held by the Joint Unions of Belize covered its counterproposal to G.O.B. as they fight cuts to public officer and teacher salaries and a three-year increment freeze. But the unions also raised the issue of the high cost of government vehicles and the thousands of dollars in allowances paid to senior government […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Cutting the Wastage in Government
The unions believe that enough time has not been given for them to properly respond to the proposals since the budget presentation is scheduled for next week Friday, March twenty-sixth. They are asking that the proposed increment freeze and salary cut be “put on hold to allow for proper consultations and negotiations.” In its counterproposal, […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
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Featured,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Cost Saving, Revenue Enhancement Recommendations to G.O.B.
The unions spoke of tens of thousands of dollars being paid to duplicate public officers in the system. We are told that a social security number is attached, but is not valid, yet a monthly salary is being paid to these phantom persons. The joint unions are asking for immediate actions by the government to […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
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People & Places |
Comments Off on Joint Unions Want Phantom Workers out and Whistleblower Legislation
As we reported on Tuesday, Cabinet met at the House of Culture in Belize City in a marathon session to discuss a range of issues, most pertinently the joint Union’s response to government’s proposals. Although members of the media waited all afternoon for comment, at the end of the meeting, the ministers zipped past them […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Featured,
Politics |
Comments Off on Cabinet Continues to Review of Union Proposals
Gillnets will just not go away, although a ban on the destructive fishing gear was signed into law last November. Aside from the nationwide gillnet ban, G.O.B. signed an agreement with OCEANA and the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries to help licensed gillnet fishers transition to other sustainable forms of livelihoods. But four months later and […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on N.G.O.s Call Out Ministry of Blue Economy on Gillnet Ban Lawsuit!
But tonight, the Ministry of Blue Economy says hold up – that’s not what is happening. Earlier today, the ministry issued its own press release to counter the joint statement from OCEANA Belize and the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries and by this afternoon, the ministry had called a virtual press conference. According to the ministry, […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Environment |
Comments Off on Ministry of Blue Economy Hits Back on Gillnet Issue!
During today’s press conference, the joint unions also responded to comments made that public service and the teachers have not made any sacrifices. The unions maintain that its members have. But are they being inflexible? A.P.S.S.M. President Sharon Frazer says that until after all cost saving measures are exhausted and there is still a gap, […]
Written on March 17, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Unions Flexible to Changing Position, If and Only If…
Many teachers are not happy about G.O.B.’s proposed ten percent salary cut and increment freeze. They have taken to the streets to protest these proposals because they feel that they will be giving up a lot and that other measures should be explored. But just how will these proposed measures affect teachers? One teacher has […]
Written on March 16, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Education,
Featured |
Comments Off on Understanding the Increment Freeze: A Teacher’s Perspective
News Five has confirmed that teachers will take to the streets across the country in their green shirts on Tuesday for simultaneous protest motorcades in each municipality. It is part the union’s response G.O.B.’s proposal for a ten percent salary cut and an increment freeze for an additional three years for teachers and public officers. […]
Written on March 15, 2021 | Posted in
Economy,
Education,
Featured |
Comments Off on B.N.T.U. to Hold Simultaneous Motorcades across the Country
