We turn now to today's Senate Meeting in Belmopan. The senators debated several pieces of draft legislation that had been passed at last Friday's meeting of the House of Representatives.
But, the bill that sparked the most intense debate of the day was the Public Sector Emoluments and Allowances Reduction Bill of 2021. As we told you, this bill carefully spells out how the 80-million-dollar cut in public wages - which was formalized in Prime Minister Briceno's first budget - will actually work. It seeks to implement the reduced pay scales for teachers and public officers. It also enshrines the different cuts to salaries and allowances for government ministers which were negotiated between GOB and the joint unions.
Some of the Senators are paid for their services from the public purse, and so, those who collect a salary will also feel the pinch of this incoming public sector wage cut. Here's what the Senators had to say when the bill was tabled at the meeting this morning:
Hon. Eamon Courtenay - Leader of Government Business
"Madam President, the bill before us is the implementation of that which we did in the budget debate. The budget was passed by this honorable senate by a majority, in which it approved the reduction in salaries, benefits, and emoluments. This bill seeks to implement and provide the legal framework for that implementation for that decision that was taken."
Hon. Michael Peyrefitte - UDP Senator
"Madam President, how can I support a bill that cuts my pay? I see the National Assembly, we already have a massive monthly salary of $900, and it's going to be slashed, Madam President. I cannot in good spirit, with the hard work that we put in, and my fellow senators, agree to such a bill. Madam President, we just reiterate our objection to any kind of withdrawal of money out of the hands of people who need to spend in a downed economy. The United Democratic Party does not accept that we need to cut people's pay. [We] don't think that this is in the best interest of the economy at this time."
Hon. Elena Smith - Senator for Labour & Civil Society
"I'm sure we know the position of the unions. We gave our vote at the budget debate, but Madam President, we have a few things that continue to concern us, and we know that we are here to approve a reduction in our salaries because we are being told that well you know what, we really can't afford it. But as my colleague mentioned a while ago Madam President, and we keep seeing these things. It's as though we're not being heard, or it's not important. You are telling me that our situation is so bad that we must cut your salary, but you must provide the same service. Yet, we see that hirings continue. Yet, we see that we are spending other things that we should be cutting back on."
"It is unfair to expect us, the persons who are going to be most affected by this cut. Yes, you can say well, the ministers are getting a cut too, and we're being cut by 15%, and they're only getting 10%. But as we said before 10% of my salary means a whole lot because I don't have any others means of income, no other allowances that I can fall back on. So, it means that my family will be in a worse position."
Hon. Kevin Herrera - Business Senator
"We supported the budget, and in that budget, contained the provisions for the salary cut, and so today, we're not changing our position on it, but it's an extremely difficult issue for us. I wish we had an alternative. I wish I could have suggested one. I've looked at the numbers. I'm trained in looking at financial information. I just don't see an alternative in the short term, and it is the short term that bothers us."
Hon. Sheena Pitts - UDP Senator
"Dah no all of us are winning. It's not everybody to win. Everybody must suffer. That is my problem with this. How is it that in directing our minds to find a solution, it is easier for us to conclude that sufferation across the board is the answer? Now, my salary being cut, you know what, my conscience is easier that this will happen. It puts me, not on the same level, but at least, Belizeans will see that in this instance in the Upper House, for those of who are remunerated, we too will suffer a cut."
Hon. Osmany Salas - NGO Senator
"Yes, we abstained when it came time to approve the budget. Our NGO community has been struggling with this. They have been honest. We're struggling on this matter. We continue the engagement, and we've shifted our position. The vast majority of our good standing members who have weighed in on this matter agree that we should support this bill."
Hon. Eamon Courtenay
"We don't enjoy this. We take no pleasure in doing this, and do not for a second, believe that we are insensitive. Do not for a second believe that we are not fully aware of the pain that it causes. But, there is a reality."
This bill was passed in the Senate with a small amendment. So, that amendment will have to back to the House, and after that, the Bill will become law when it goes for assent from the new Governor-General.
