Do Politicians Understand the People’s Struggle?
For many Belizeans, the cost-of-living crisis is making it harder to keep the lights on, put food on the table and stretch every dollar. But can politicians who receive generous salaries, allowances and stipends truly understand that struggle? As concerns grow over rising prices and the country’s energy crisis, we put that question to NTUCB President Ella Waight. Here is what she had to say.
Ella Waight
Ella Waight, President, NTUCB
“We sent a list to the prime minister, maybe about a month or two months ago, a list of about twelve areas where we as the NTUCB recommended to the government where we can help the situation we are in. And it does generate from the high cost of fuel. We get that. We did not even get an acknowledgement that we can sit down and discuss these issues, these recommendations, nothing. from government. What else can we do. Will it take us storming into an office? We do not want to do that. We want to promote social dialogue just as he does with Cabinet reach out to the workers of the country, representatives. So, we made a list. We sent in a list with some proposals, nothing, no response.”
Paul Lopez
“Your members they are citizens that rely on electricity.”
Ella Waight
“Just as the prime minister, just as anyone. I am sure when the electricity go off, the prime minister and Minister Musa and Minister Usher say “shux its hot in here. The AC come off”, just like all of us, our fans come off. So like the sister and I were saying, when the electricity go off, its not just the poor that get affected, it’s the rich too.”
Paul Lopez
“But do you think that they can truly empathize with ordinary Belizeans, which their huge salaries, allowances, stipends, entertainment allowances, telephone allowances.”
Ella Waight
“I think some and I would go as far as say most would because not everybody they are related to are ministers and business owners. Some people they are related to are just like me and you.”
Dennison Slams Government’s Taxpayer-Funded Fuel Benefits
For many Belizeans, every trip to the gas station puts another strain on the household budget. But Union Senator Glenfield Dennison argues that politicians and public officers whose fuel bills are covered by taxpayers cannot fully understand that struggle. He says when transportation costs do not come out of their own pockets, decision-makers lose touch with the affordability crisis facing ordinary citizens. Here is how he put it.
Glenfield Dennison, Union Senator
“I will say this, and this include public officers, anybody who has been getting just gas paid for, they have a government vehicle, a statutory body vehicle, the utility company that they are directors for provides a vehicle for them, any of those people wo don’t buy their own fuel, can’t relate to what is happening on the streets right now and especially if you have been doing that for the last six years, you don’t even know what it is like to fill up your gas tank. Lot of these people have drives. So transportation for them is not an expense. So I feel like once you cant relate to buying your own gas you cant relate to the average Belizean, straight like that, me seh suh.”
Senator Dennison has repeatedly called on the government to establish a comprehensive plan to address the rising cost of living and provide relief to citizens.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.