Bradley: “People Don’t Care What They Pay You” If Government Delivers

Former UDP Mayor Darrell Bradley says people care more about results than about what leaders are paid. His comments come amid debate over whether government ministers’ allowances should be cut, as Belizeans grapple with an affordability crisis. As we have reported, ministers receive thirty-two thousand dollars a year in allowances alone. Deputy Prime Minister Cordel Hyde says those allowances should be cut, and Prime Minister John Briceño says he does not disagree. Here is what Bradley told us.

 

Darrell Bradley, Former UDP Mayor

“I think that you always have to have a situation where what is paid to people in elected office is commensurate with what is going on in the wider society. I remember when I first got into City Hall; on the campaign, people were always asking about stipends for the councillors. That was a huge concern. When I got elected, nobody asked me that. And the reason why nobody asked me that is because if you have a government that performs and provides for opportunities and does the job the promise they will do, people don’t care about that. People want to see economic opportunities. They want to see housing, healthcare, anti-corruption, and effective policies that redress the social inequalities that are really running out of control, and if you are a leader that really provides for that and has a heart for people, they don’t really care what they pay you.”

 

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.

 

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