BELIZE CITY, Wed. Mar. 10, 2021– During an interview with the media this Wednesday, Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño informed the public that the budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 will be presented on Friday, March 26, 2021. The delay in the budget presentation is due to still ongoing budget consultations that are taking place between the government and its social partners.

At this juncture, some members of the Joint Union Negotiating Team have flatly rejected the proposal for salary reductions that was put forward by the Government of Belize. The Prime Minister is hoping that extended consultations will enable the government to secure these labor unions’ support of the proposals.

While being interviewed, Hon. Briceño shared that his government took a two-pronged approach in collectively analyzing the economic situation with its social partners and finding solutions. The first step taken by government, said Hon. Briceño, was to explain to these social partners the dire economic situation that the country is currently in, after which the Government could proceed with the second step — which involves outlining what has to be done to move the country forward.

He said that they are currently in phase two, and with the letter outlining the five-point proposal from the Government coming under fire from the Joint Union Negotiating Team, it is clear that the parties may have to go back to the drawing board.

If this turns out to be the case, the presentation and debate of the budget for this new fiscal year will be further pushed back. At this point, the budget debate, according to Hon. Briceño, is expected to take place on April 8, and to last for two days. This means the country will not officially enter the new fiscal year until around mid-April.

The PM says that the budget proceedings are being delayed solely to ensure that the dialogue with the unions is clear and that they understand the present situation and what will be done. In his remarks, he said, “we’re hoping that they will join us in what we are proposing to them as we present our budget next week Friday to the Belizean people.”