What began full of promise as two topics of interest and controversy ended with a virtual whimper tonight as a press release from the Belize City Council defused two issues of great concern to Belize City residents – the issue of a salary (stipend) increase for the Mayor and councilors in this time of serious financial crunch for the Council, and the issue of the 1-week suspension without pay of Christine Perriott, Human Resource Director, from duties at the Council.
As chronicled in the story, Christine amidst the CitCo uproar!,published elsewhere in this issue, Perriott was accused last Thursday by City Council employee Glenford “Easy Glenn” Adolphus, of dishonesty in the matter of fuel obtained from the Council for her use.
Perriott has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, and tonight, Councilors held a meeting on the twin topics of contention. Of Perriott, the release said: “Based on the report put forward, while it was viewed that there were some procedural irregularities, the Council agreed that there is no reason to pursue the matter further, but to simply ensure proper procedures as it pertains to the issuance of fuel.”
End of that story.
The issue of the Mayor’s and Councilors’ salary/stipend increases was addressed in a more convoluted fashion. The release informed that the interpretation of a “March 17, 2006 Minutes (under a PUP City Council) that was presented in October 2008, was that the Mayor should have been receiving $6,000/month, the Deputy $3,960/month, and the Councilors $2,068/month.
The release pointed out that “ALL Councilors had been receiving an additional amount…2006-2009… Deputy $4,561.68/month…or a possible $18,600/year extra (sic); and Councilors $2,600.68/month…or a possible $16,513.08/year extra (sic).”
“It was based on that information that a discussion was made as to whether there should be a reverting back to the previous stipends,” the release said.
Apparently, nobody voted to forego their fat stipend increases over the PUP-set salaries.
“Unless otherwise indicated by Local Government, the Councilors’ stipends remain as per the Tuesday, October 14 [2008] agreement, i.e., the Mayor will get $6,000/month, the Deputy $4,561.68/month, and the Councilors $2,600.68/month.”
In other words, ladies and gentlemen, in this time of great financial challenge to the Council, of a city stained by dirt and neglect supposedly caused by financial constraints, all the bloated salaries stand!
Public opinion, stated on the airwaves, is that while the Mayor may earn her salary as a full-time employee of the Council, there appears to be no need for the Councilors, who earn hefty stipends while working full-time elsewhere.
The Mayor can hire people to head the various portfolios, the thinking is, and get better results.