by Kory Leslie (Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Belize, Tues. Dec. 20, 2022
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceno; and the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Cordel Hyde, accompanied by the Minister of Education, Hon. Francis Fonseca; Minister of Public Service and Constitutional Reform, Hon. Henry Charles Usher, and Financial Secretary Joseph Waight met with the representatives of the Joint Unions. It was a meeting that the unions had been urging the government to hold for months — since the administration, during the negotiations in 2021 that culminated in the implementation of a 10% reduction of the salaries of public workers, had committed to meeting with the unions periodically to update them on fiscal progress made by the government and on what benefits the government would be able to reinstate for those workers. Matters that were reportedly discussed at the meeting on Tuesday included fiscal transparency and the unfreezing of increments due to public officers during the upcoming fiscal year.
In regard to GoB’s adherence to Fiscal Transparency and the Responsibility Regulations outlined in 2010, Prime Minister Briceno reportedly told the union reps that until his administration took over the reins of government, the regulations were not being enforced by former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Dean Barrow. Briceno reportedly told the reps that his administration has been more forthcoming with information and has remained adherent to the law where supplemental bills are concerned. Financial Secretary Waight likewise committed to providing any additional information requested, and in the format outlined in the 2010 regulations.
The GOB reps also informed the joint unions that the proposed insurance scheme for public officers for 2023 is “unlikely to be implemented”. However, they noted that with the launch of the NHI program in Orange Walk, Belize City and Cayo next year (at a date to be determined), public servants will have the needed access to primary and preventative care.
Next on the agenda was the current increment freeze that has been in place since 2021. Hon. Briceno informed the joint unions that the freeze will remain in place and that the possible resumption of the disbursement of increments will be contingent on pension reform. Minister Usher reportedly interjected to add that the appraisal system for the officers needs to likewise be reviewed to more effectively ensure that increments are performance-based. In response to this, the union reps argued that the appraisals are “already performance-based, and it was the persons responsible for doing/supervising the appraisals who have skewed the process.” The unions also asserted that there needs to be tax reform to accompany the discussions of pension reform. PM Briceno responded by stating that this reform would be considered separately, as the GOB is intending to phase out the existing Pay as You Earn (PAYE) System by the end of the year. Pension reform is slated to be implemented in April of 2023, with consultations on the matter scheduled for January of next year.
Other matters discussed at the meeting included a proposal to have public officers play a role in the reporting of price gouging and any failure of local businesses to issue receipts following purchases. The proposal was reportedly welcomed by PM Briceno, who said that he will urge the Price Control Unit to review it. Also, the Joint Unions inquired about the GOB’s position on having senior career public officers act as accounting officers within specific ministries. The PM advised that he is awaiting recommendations from the People’s Constitution Committee (PCC), following which the GOB and Joint Unions would be able to make recommendations on the matter to the PCC. When asked about the formation of a Tax Recovery Unit, Hon. Briceno stated that the unit had already been formed and that “of the 496 million dollars in outstanding taxes, 399.3 million has been written off as uncollectible”. Of the remaining $69.8 million deemed collectible, $725,000 has been collected, and the department is collecting $75,000 monthly in arrears, he said.
The matter of Good Governance, a frequent focal point in the unions’ activism efforts, was also tabled for review. Both Ministers Fonseca and Usher were able to shed some light on draft bills that are under review. The Whistleblowers Act. which was first read in the House of Representatives in June of 2021, is reportedly still under evaluation by the House Committee. Regarding the Civil Asset Recovery and Wealth Order Bill and the Campaign Finance Act, the U.S. Embassy is offering assistance by providing a Draft Expert to assist the Attorney General’s Ministry with these legislations, the government reps told the unions.
Another pressing issue which was discussed is the amending of the Teachers Pension Act. PM Briceno told the union reps that the government is not in favor of mandating that church-state schools pay the required 30% of teachers’ pensions, as this could “possibly bankrupt the delinquent institutions”. For the time being, the government will continue to pay the 70% pension contributions, but the PM has committed to further consideration of the matter and promised to provide the unions with an update in July of 2023. Following pushback from the president of the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU), Senator Elena Smith, the PM then conceded to a shorter timeline and promised to have an update by March of next year.
The final matter outlined in the briefing was the discussion of a Collective Bargaining Agreement that is to be signed between BAHA (Belize Agricultural Health Authority) and the Public Service Union (PSU). The PM reported that he was not aware of the situation; however, the president of the PSU, Dean Flowers stated that he sent a letter to the Minister of Agriculture and the Managing Director and Chairman of the board of BAHA and did not receive a response. Minister Usher said he was aware of the matter and was informed that the senior management of BAHA conducted the negotiations instead of the board, but questioned how senior managers could negotiate on their own behalf. Flowers clarified that an information sheet dated 2003 specified that senior managers could not form the bargaining unit of the union. The PSU also has records that show that all managing directors, acting managing directors and senior managers have been reporting progress to the board after all negotiation sessions.
Minister Usher said that he will be meeting with the Managing Director of BAHA in January to gain more clarity and “chart the way forward”.