And while the cost of bakers inputs are going up - one thing that isn't increasing is the cost of an Ambassador for Trade and Investment. Belize has two of them - super successful businessmen Haisam Diab and Jaime Briceno - and tonight we know that both of them are working for free! It's incredible - but apparently true - and, actually, almost too good to be true: one small nation, two gilded ambassadors - working for ZERO. We asked the PM about the compensation for his brother, Ambassador for Trade and Investment Jaime Briceno today - and he bristled at even the suggestion that he was being paid:
Courtney Menzies
"How is he being compensated for this position and is it being paid by the state?"
Hon. John Briceno - Prime Minister
"You really asked that question? He gets no salary, he get no compensation at all."
Courtney Menzies
"Sir, but we know that senior business executives don't work for free, so he has to be getting some advantage out of it."
Hon. John Briceno
"You really want me to answer that question, I mean I find that - honestly - I find that insulting. I have told you already, he gets no compensation. We come from a family of public service and we believe that money is not everything in the world, I could be spending my time in business and be doing much better than what I am, I mean personally, but we both believe- my mother was a teacher all my life, my father was part of public service, and we believe we need to give back something to the country and Jaime is no different. He may not have his name on a ballot but he's always involved in so many activities and if you were to have taken the time to find out more about him, you'd not have asked that question, because I really find it insulting."
Note to newsroom, "take the time to find out more about Jaime Briceno."
