The BDF has a big problem. It has to cut soldiers' pay. Now, it's not a pay cut, but a correction. The problem is - due to an administrative error - soldiers were being overpaid going back to 2019.
And now, their salaries have to be brought in line with those of police and coast guard officers.
7News has obtained a copy of the minutes of a Ministry of Defence meeting discussing the problem on March 15th. Jules Vasquez asked the minister about it today:
Jules Vasquez
"There is an administrative issue with salaries for soldiers where soldiers have been overpaid from 2019 due to an irregularity that really is just an administrative error. But you all re stuck with the problem now 5 years later that these soldiers received over pay for 5 years."
"The ministry is obligated to now revise the salaries downwards so they can be in line with the Coast Guard and the police officers. Would you speak about this very difficult decision?"
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of Defense and Border Security
"Yes. As you know that since we got into government, there's many different issues that we've had to clarify many different issues that was left on the table where we now have to make some tough decisions. And there was that error where soldiers were overpaid and right now I'm working with them, with the BDF for them to give me a clear picture as to exactly how this is going to be, how this is going to work."
"And so I don't want to get into any details without having numbers in front of me."
Jules Vasquez
"But it has to be you know, it isn't ever good news when you have to tell any level of employee or any any worker that in fact, your salary, there was a mistake and your salary has to be revised downward when they weren't responsible for the mistake. They probably didn't even know it was happening."
"Is this something that concerns you, having been a soldier yourself? You know how soldiers have to stretch their salaries?"
Florencio Marin Jr., Minister of Defense and Border Security
"Yes. I'm glad you put it like that. No, I mean, I am a former soldier. And so, yes, I fully understand the challenges that they face. That is without a doubt. But with this one here, like I said, it is an issue of there's an anomaly and we need to clear it up. And so I still want to be able to see the full report from the BDF before I could give more a clear answer."
