Yesterday, the KHMH Workers Union calls out Minister of Health Kevin Bernard for not meeting with them in a timely manner, and also for traveling to Taiwan before meeting with them.
They also wrote to the Prime Minister in September asking him for a meeting. The long delayed Bernard meeting was to have preceded that meeting with the Prime Minister.
This morning when we pressed the PM on whether his government is giving due priority to the national referral hospital's union, all he could say is that given his busy schedule the Minister of Health is trying.
Cherisse Halsall
"Sir, pensions for the KHMH workers, your government has been in for two years do you feel that it is something you should have addressed by now?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"No, I don't think. I mean of course, we wish we could have done it from day one let's start with that but we have had so many other pressing issues that we've had to address in trying to stable the Belize dollar, stabilize the Belizean economy stabilize the government expenditure and get the economy going and growing and creating opportunities for Belize. I am not in any way suggesting that the pensions for KHMH workers are not important they are very important and it's high on our agenda. I met with them briefly for the anniversary. It was last month I think and they were asking for a meeting and I said yes we are going to meet with you but I was recommending and suggesting that let them meet first with the Minister of Health and once they have that meeting then I will come in to see how we can settle it."
Cherisse Halsall
"Sir, but the Minister..."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"It is unfortunate that in two instances that they called the meeting something came up and the Minister could not meet with them, this last time he was telling them that he offered to meet with them via Zoom but they preferred to meet in person. So it isn't that Minister Bernard is trying to avoid them. He is not, for you, I guess you all know Minister Bernard. He is a very open, friendly person, very approachable so it is just sometimes unfortunate of different issues coming up that the meetings that the set have been unable to meet."
