But while there isn't money to give the teachers their full allowance, they point out that there are sufficient funds to increase the PM's transport allowance by 200%. We previously reported that in January the allowance went from $1,300 to $4,000 monthly.
Public officers whose increments are still frozen see it as a slap in the face, but the PM explains that his vehicle allowance is saving the government money since he uses his own vehicle.
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"As to the issue of the vehicle, they have beat that to death. The point is that what we're doing right now, I'm saving the government money. If the government were to buy my vehicle for me and if the government paid to change my tyres, pay to change the oil, pay to fix the vehicle, it's going to cost a lot more than what I'm being given for as allowance."
"If you make them happy and want the government to buy my vehicle, that fine by me. The thing is that I am a very active prime minister. I am on the road almost every single day. I do not stay on my hometown. The previous prime minister for whatever reasons most of the time he was in Belize City. I'm in the Toledo District, in Stann Creek, in Cayo - I'm all over seeing the work that we are doing, listening to the people, seeing what are the challenges that we have and then if I have to call out a minister and say guys, I went in such an area, this is happening. So I am active. I need a good vehicle to be able to travel and I understand what they say and I don't begrudge them with whatever they would like to say."
