Day: July 30, 2025

Last night, we brought you the growing concerns from employees at the Belize Tax Service over the government’s plan to transition the department into a semi-autonomous revenue authority by December. Public Service Union President Dean Flowers says the move feels like a slight to staff, who’ve been left out of key conversations. While the government insists the change will boost efficiency and revenue collection, the union is demanding more transparency. Today, Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher weighed in, offering his perspective on the controversy and what the transition really means for public officers.

 

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service

“The options that are open to them right now, as was explained last night, is that they can remain with the newly formed such semi-autonomous revenue authority. They can remain in the public service and be placed somewhere in the wider public service, or I didn’t know that this was an option that they would be able to leave their job, but I don’t see that as being one, but certainly it is something that we have to be very cognizant of. We have to work with the employees as the Minister of Public Service, I have to make sure that the public officers are treated fairly that they are their options. Everything is explained to them, and that’s something that we are doing. I’m glad that Union was able to have that meeting with them yesterday. And I think that there are questions that have come up and these questions need to be answered.”

 

Reporter

“Their issue is that they would have to reapply. They already have a job and they would have to reapply, and there’s a chance that they don’t get accepted into that job. And I put into the wider public service, they’re saying, this is unfair. And it destroys their dignity.”

 

Henry Charles Usher

“I don’t know that they, I wouldn’t go so far as seeing that it’s a matter of destroying their dignity. But in terms of the question as to whether the interview process would be a part of them staying with the new revenue authority, that’s something that the revenue authority would have to determine. They were hired by the Ministry of Public Service. Their terms and conditions of service are determined by the Public Service Commission. Currently. If these employees choose to remain in the public service, then of course they would then be true. We need to find a new place for them within the public service, but if they go and start to work with the new revenue authority, they are choosing to work under the terms and conditions of that authority, which may include an interview process. I haven’t seen that part of it as yet. I haven’t really looked at what the revenue authority is going to do. My goal right now is to make sure that the public officers are treated fairly, that they have all of the information, and that those that remain in the public service, we can find somewhere for them to go. I believe there are about 226 employees under the police staff service. So we have to make sure that we can find jobs for them in the event that they want to remain in the public service.”

 

Recently, the Briceño administration committed to increasing the university’s subvention by one-point-one million dollars, but that still falls short of what the faculty and staff have been demanding. The University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union says the increase is nearly a decade overdue and still one-point-three million dollars shy of what’s needed. The government, however, maintains that UB is already getting enough support through other channels. Today, we spoke with P.U.P. Chairman Henry Charles Usher, who doubled down on that position and explained why the current approach, in their view, is justified.

 

Henry Charles Usher, Chairman, People’s United Party 

“The question that should be asked is what total is the government giving to UB? Because in addition to the subvention. Government is providing assistance to students, which goes directly to the University of Belize’s account. I think the last fiscal year, the assistance totaled five million or close to five million. So in reality, it was close to  twelve point five million which was what the University of Belize was receiving directly from the government, of least being the subvention and the assistance to students. The increase of the subvention does not affect the assistance to the students, so you will see an increase their  there as well. Not an increase. Total, the total amount will be increased. So certainly that is where we have to look at.”

 

If you’re looking for a chance to reconnect, reflect, and recharge, there’s an open invitation just for you. The Belize Northern District Church of the Nazarene is hosting a three-day men’s retreat, and everyone’s welcome. It’s happening from August first to third at the Lord’s Love World Mission Center in Unitedville. This morning, Roma Usher stopped by our studio to share all the details about what promises to be a powerful and uplifting experience.

 

Roma Usher, Member, Church of the Nazarene

“Contributions for the cause will go towards the bible school, the children’s outreach, no funds, good runs school bags and lunches for the new school year and to help anybody who approach the church and need assistance.”

 

Paul Lopez

“What can the men expect?”

 

Roma Usher

“They can expect fun, singles, most naturally there will be church oriented events for people who are not married, putting God first and placing him about all else. There will be fun, you will get to learn and meet men like yourselves, within the society or the church and you will get to be a part of a broke up if that is something you would like. It is an idea of their where their groups became a subsidiary of the same, people who are men who are religious or for those non-religious interested in the church or God who became that specific group of men.”