BELMOPAN, Wed. Mar. 17, 2021– On Tuesday, March 16, the Cabinet met in an all-day session and released notes from that meeting the following day. At the top of the meeting’s agenda was consideration of the Joint Union Negotiating Team’s response to Government’s proposals for salary cuts and an increment freeze. Cabinet received the counter-proposals from the unions and has since approved the “progression of discussion with the unions in good faith.”
They also received an update from the Ministry of Health and Wellness on the progress of the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout. The release states, “Cabinet welcomed the news that already 10,000 Belizeans have received their first vaccination at the rate of 600 persons per day. This is in line with Government’s plan to vaccinate over 200,000 Belizeans in 120 days.”
Cabinet has also endorsed a plan of proposed corrective measures for the Development Finance Corporation after receiving a report of its “deteriorating position.”
These measures should enable the DFC to access and provide credit to the productive sector.
And lastly, the government of Belize is poised to generate $25 million in savings annually through a newly centralized procurement unit, which is to be attached to the Ministry of Finance. Cabinet has endorsed the development of this unit.