by Rudolph A. Neal

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Feb. 2, 2023

Shock-waves were felt around the country, particularly among the working-class proletariats in the public sector, when it was announced in a memorandum that the base salary of judges in Belize’s High Court is set to be increased. The memorandum advised that the new base salary for judges of the High Courts of Belize is to be increased to a whopping $175,000 per annum, with effect from February 1, 2023. Aside from this increase being applicable to both new and current sitting judges, it is also tax-free. Now, while one cannot contend with what is a reasonable remuneration for the work that judges do, one can challenge the timing and question the actions on the part of the government. Immediately, on the heels of such a move, one can only say that, given the harsh effects of inflation and stagflation and the fact that thousands of teachers and public servants cannot have their increments restored, increasing the salaries of judges at this time is an outright slap in the face!

In early 2021, after the harsh economic effects of Covid-19, when the country’s economic future was hanging in the balance, the teachers and public servants were summoned to give of themselves to launch a rescue and resuscitation effort. They were not asked if they could have afforded it, but this great burden was placed on their back, where their salaries were reduced by 10% and increments were frozen. Such a move brought great stress and frustration to this group, and they weathered the storm, with many of them being tossed into the poverty pool, and many more being sent to the brink of destitution. But sacrifice they did and bore the brunt of such a move in the name of the country’s economic rebound and future. They did this while combatting inflation and high fuel prices and still carried on. While salaries have been restored to 100%, increments are still frozen, and teachers and public servants believe it is to further allow the government to strengthen its fiscal position. Come to find out, the affluent aristocrats who have copious abundance will be given an increase.

This comes as a direct slap in the face of all those hardworking teachers who serve their community assiduously. It comes as a slap in the face to all the public servants who toil for this country and give laboriously of themselves to offer service to the people of this country. It comes as a slap in the face to our officers and soldiers, our servicemen and women who man the frontlines to keep this country safe. It is a slap in the face to all those hardworking people who despite having just received a minimum wage increase, have to use it to offset reduced working hours and increases in the prices of goods and services. It is an outright slap in the face to all who have sacrificed in one way or another, who with stewardship and goodwill did their part to contribute to an economic rebound, only to find out that there is money for certain things. If that’s the case, unfreeze the increments and restore increments to all teachers and public servants in the country. Because such a move is most injurious to the working-class public servants of this country and constitutes an outright slap in the face!

Unchained Reflections Of A Liberal Pragmatist!