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And, finally from inside the National Assembly chambers, Prime Minister Briceño sought to set the record straight about why the public service wage bill has become unsustainable. PM Briceño referred to the three salary increases for public officers that the U.D.P. administration approved over the past decade. PM Briceño went on to say that the […]
Written on April 23, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PM Blames U.D.P. for Unsustainable Wage Bill
One union that will not be taking part in any industrial action against the government is the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital’s Workers Union. That’s because during discussions this week between Prime Minister John Briceño and the executive from that union, the PM assured that he will endeavour to not have the K.H.M.H. subvention reduced as […]
Written on April 23, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Hospital Workers Will Not Strike; Concerned about Subvention
Baird said that the K.H.M.H. employees have already given up quite a lot of their salaries and benefits. Some of these sacrifices date back to 2015. Andrew Baird, Vice President, K.H.M.H. Workers’ Union “If you may recall, when public officers received eight, six and three percent (raise) in three years from the government, we […]
Written on April 23, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on K.H.M.H. Staff Sacrifices Date to 2015
The union leader told News Five that while the K.H.M.H. Workers’ Union has no qualms with the government at this time, one thing its members would like to have addressed is a government pension. Aside from the Social Security pension scheme, K.H.M.H. workers are not on any retirement plan. Andrew Baird, Vice President, K.H.M.H. […]
Written on April 23, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Hospital Union Wants Pension Review
One of the considerations that came up during the meeting between the K.H.M.H. Workers’ Union and Prime Minister Briceño on Wednesday was a request for a 2015 M.O.U. which stipulated that the three hundred and eighty union members would have board representation. Andrew Baird, Vice President, K.H.M.H. Workers’ Union “From 2015 when we had a […]
Written on April 23, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on K.H.M.H. Overtime Payments due May 15th
All eyes today were on Independence Hill, as teachers, nurses and other members of the joint unions came out to express their discontent with G.O.B. and its intent to cut their salaries by ten percent and freeze their increments for an additional three years. News Five’s Duane Moody was outside the National Assembly this morning. […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on P.S.U. and Teachers Protest Outside National Assembly Building
While the unions made their presence known outside the National Assembly, on the inside, it was business as usual for the first day of the Budget Debate, as the members took turns both criticizing and supporting parts of the budget that most directly affect their ministerial portfolios and constituents. News Five’s Isani Cayetano has excerpts […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on 2021 Budget Debate Off to a Tepid Start
Today in the House, Cayo South Area Representative, who knew that Minister Usher had told Cabinet on Wednesday he would use his constitutional power to “fix” public officers’ salary, to reflect the wage cuts and increment freeze, Espat said he hoped that the government and the unions could continue to dialogue for the good of […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Julius Espat is Hopeful that Impasse will be Resolved Peacefully
On the opposition’s side of the House, Area Representative for the Albert Division Tracey Taegar-Panton went on record to say she cannot support a budget that cuts the salaries of teachers and public officers. Panton acknowledged that the U.D.P. administration has been criticized for borrowing a million dollars a day to address the salary commitment […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on U.D.P.’s Panton Says She Cannot Support Wage Cut
Since February, discussions have been held with the joint unions leading up to the budget presentation. But that has not ended well. Today, a reserved N.T.U.C.B. president Luke Martinez says that there are areas where the wage bill can be cut, while P.S.U. Vice President Dean Flowers says the G.O.B. is not being truthful about […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on The Realities of the Wage Bill?
While the unions were at the foot of the National Assembly building protesting, inside the House a couple members were calling for the voice of reason to prevail. Member for Freetown Francis Fonseca noted that discussions between the unions and G.O.B. have been all encompassing, and that every piece of information requested by the unions […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Members Address Union Reaction to Budget
At the start of today’s budget debate, Speaker of the House Valerie Woods laid down the ground rules of the House, based on the Standing Orders. She reminded all members these standing orders dictate how members must address each other and the type of language to be used. Her reminder was no doubt prompted by […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Speaker Sets Tone at Start of the Debate
The nomination of Froyla Tzalam as Belize’s next Governor General has been formalized via official communication between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Buckingham Palace. The Government of Belize is seeking a replacement for Sir Colville Young on his retirement at the end of April after roughly twenty-eight years in office as representative of the […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PM Briceño Announces Pending Appointment of a New G.G.
The poor treatment the late Doctor Dame Minita Gordon received upon retiring from her post as Belize’s first Governor General in 1993 left a lot to be desired for such a distinguished office. In an effort to prevent a recurrence, Prime Minister Briceño will be returning to parliament in the weeks ahead to amend the […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Pension Plan for Retiring G.G.
Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, Francis Fonseca indicated there could be major changes at University of Belize. He says UB needs new direction and a Belizean at the helm. Minister Fonseca briefly explained his plans to right the ship. Francis Fonseca, Area Representative, Freetown Division “I place on record my deep […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
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Comments Off on Minister Fonseca Says Changes Needed at U.B.
In a time of historic financial constraints, the National Institute of History and Culture, NICH, is facing severe fiscal challenges in carrying out its mandate. According to the Ministry responsible for Culture, Francis Fonseca, the staff and Administration at NICH had their salaries slashed due to steep drops in revenue over the past year. Fonseca […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Minister Applauds Loyal Staff of NICH
The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry is urging G.O.B. and the unions to return to the negotiating table, and offering to be an independent voice. Today, we asked President of the B.C.C.I. Marissa Longsworth if these parties can compromise. Marissa Longsworth, President, B.C.C.I. “We hope so and that is part of the reason […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Chamber Offers to Assist with G.O.B. and Union Talks
One of the main reasons why the chamber is calling for an end to the impasse between G.O.B. and the unions is because they say that they are concerned that if the standoff continues the way it is, it will “add more strain to an economy already under severe stress.” In its release, the chamber […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on B.C.C.I.: G.O.B. & Unions Impasse is Bad for Business!
The details of Wednesday’s cabinet meeting were released late this afternoon. The big news is that the Minister of the Public Service, Henry Charles Usher, will proceed to fix the salaries of public officers due to the deteriorated state of public finances. To soften the blow, cabinet agreed to grant a land credit to the […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Cabinet Approves Changes to Public Officer Salaries
The teachers are going to strike and leading up to next week Monday, they were out once again today in various municipalities to say no to the salary cut and increment freeze. News Five’s Duane Moody caught up with a group in Hattieville and compiled this story with footage and interviews from the island and […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
People & Places |
Comments Off on Teachers Line Highways in Municipalities
During his rebuttal to the budget presentation, Leader of the Opposition Patrick Faber raised the issue of outstanding taxes owed to the Government of Belize. He commended the current administration for its decision to allocate funds to beef up tax collection; however, he questioned whether the Briceño administration has the political will to go after […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
Education,
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Comments Off on Faber and Fonseca Spar over Unions
A Corozal family is desperately trying to find their loved one who has been missing since Saturday. According to the Martinez family, Kim Michelle Martinez was reportedly at home when her husband went to work that day. Since then they have been searching for her and have received tips that say she was spotted in […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Have You Seen Michelle Kim Martinez?
As the world observes Earth Day, people all over Belize are reflecting on environmental issues and challenges facing this country. Recently, one group of farmers in southern Belize began to deal with a common threat to their livelihoods head on, by getting training in dealing with forest fires. Not only are they able to now […]
Written on April 22, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on PG Farmers Stand Up to Fires
This afternoon in Belmopan, the Belize Police Department was busy placing barricades at the base of Independence Hill to prevent protesters and other members of the public from advancing towards the Assembly Building during the budget debate. While the unions and government are at loggerheads over the looming salary cuts, G.O.B. is taking no chances […]
Written on April 21, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Police Barricade Independence Hill
Public officers took time off from work today to check up on their health and wellness, amid the imminent salary cuts that they are facing. This morning, they visited health centers and clinics across the country to get checkups, as well as vaccinations against COVID-19. It is part of an ongoing series of activities leading […]
Written on April 21, 2021 | Posted in
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Comments Off on Public Officers Get Health Checkups and COVID Shots
