Geovannie Brackett... he rose to public prominence wearing his hats as either activist or journalist. During the former Barrow Government's administration, Brackett often staged high energy protests that were long on rhetoric, but short on numbers.
His toughest critics always believed that he was a silent operative of vested corporate or political interests - namely the PUP. So, his notable low profile during the current Briceno Administration, and a new internal memo from the Ministry of Finance are being treated as confirmation of such.
It comes from Financial Secretary Joseph Waight, and it is dated March 21, 2022.
It says, quote, "Kindly refer to your memorandum... on the above subject. Approval is given for the contractual employment of Mr. Geovannie Brackett as Information Consultant, Government Press Office, Office of the Prime Minister for a period of two years, with effect from February 1, 2022.
Mr. Brackett will be paid a salary at a fixed rate of forty-two thousand dollars per annum, and 10% gratuity at the end of the contract period, and a telephone allowance at a rate of 125 dollars per month." End quote.
We sought comment from both Brackett and the Director of the Government Press Office, Mike Rudon. Brackett told us that he was unavailable for comment today, but he has promised to make a response in the near future. Rudon declined to comment.
We also requested comments from the President of the Public Service Union. Via WhatsApp, he told us, quote, "...The value of this contract to Mr. Brackett is another insult to our hard-working police officers, BDF soldiers, firemen, cleaners, and registry and records clerks who perform much more valuable services to the people and government of Belize and are paid peanut salaries, nowhere close to what is being paid to yet another political patriot of the Government for doing absolutely nothing. This is the equivalent of hiring a Ghost worker to provide income for a party supporter. This Administration like the previous Administration will continue growing the already unsustainable wage bill on the backs of the Belizean people and will sustain it by further saddling our children and grandchildren with loans. I said from the beginning, that this Administration was not about fiscal discipline but merely about creating fiscal space through refinancing efforts to continue on the path of unbridled wasteful spending, political hirings, and selective tendering which fosters the continuation of corrupt procurement practices." End quote.
