Photo: Her Excellency Froyla Tzalam, Governor-General of Belize

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Dec. 8, 2022

In last month’s Government Gazette dated November 26, it was announced that new members of the Public Services Commission (PSC) had been appointed, and that, after an extended delay and two previous attempts to nominate candidates for the post who had later withdrawn from consideration, a chairperson of the PSC—Diana Murillo Price—had been selected.

The appointments were carried out by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister following consultations with the Leader of the Opposition.

The finalization of this process of filling vacant spots on the commission is something that, in the eyes of the Public Service Union, is long overdue, since there has been an ever-mounting heap of unaddressed matters for the members of the commission to resolve (including promotions, appointments and disciplinary matters)—many of which have had a direct impact on the day-to-day lives of some public workers, including some retired public officers whose receipt of their retirement benefits has been delayed.

But there is likely to be a mixed reaction from the PSU, which had decried the long delay in the appointment of the PSC members and chair due to the inconvenience caused to retired public servants in need of their benefits, but which had favored the appointment of another individual—Mr. Alfredo Cruz—to the post of PSC chair.

In mid-October of this year, the PSU, via press release, endorsed Mr. Cruz for the position, with Dean Flowers, the president of the PSU, pointing to the fact that Cruz is “knowledgeable and experienced in the inner workings of the Commission.” A few days later, the Prime Minister would confirm that Cruz’s name had been mentioned in discussions about persons who could possibly fill the post, but he had stated that for reasons he did not wish to comment on, Cruz was not considered. (Cruz is, however, a member of the commission.)

During the October interview in which he made those remarks, however, the Prime Minister, who had previously nominated former diplomat Moises Cal and Crescencio Sosa for the post prior to their withdrawal from consideration, had indicated that Murillo Price was the person he planned to appoint to serve as PSC chair.

In regard to the backlog to be addressed by the Public Service Commission, he had stated, “As soon as Ms. Murillo takes that position, trust me, we will ensure that we can get that done as quickly as we possibly can, but we want to make sure that we find the right person.” He had indicated that he had interviewed Murillo Price, and that she had expressed her willingness to serve as PSC chair. At that point, Murillo Price was expected to retire from her position as a public officer in a few weeks.

Ms. Murillo Price has served as a public servant for over 40 years and has since retired from her post. She officially began to serve as PSC chair on November 16 and will hold the post for the next two years alongside commissioners Troy Gabb, William Skeen, and Alfredo Cruz. The tenure for the commissioners began on November 1.

As noted, prior to the appointment of Murillo Price, two other persons had been nominated for the post: former diplomat Moises Cal, who had been accused years ago of money laundering and who withdrew from consideration after public outcry and objections from the Opposition; and

Cresencio Sosa who, according to Prime Minister John Briceño, had withdrawn from consideration for the post after falling ill just a short time before he was set to start his work as the Chairman of the PSC.