PSU Accuses GOB of Retreating from Transparency over Proposed Revenue Authority

A growing disagreement has surfaced between the Government of Belize and the Public Service Union (PSU) over the proposed conversion of the Belize Tax Service Department (BTSD) into a Semi‑Autonomous Revenue Authority (SARA), with the union accusing the Ministry of Finance of retreating from transparency and reneging on commitments made during earlier consultations.

The dispute follows an exchange of letters between Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and PSU President Dean Flowers. In a letter dated December 18, 2025, the Ministry of Finance said that Cabinet has already taken a policy decision to proceed with the establishment of SARA. While acknowledging the PSU’s engagement and assurances that implementation would not occur before October 2026, the Ministry stressed that further discussions with the union would focus strictly on implementation issues affecting employees rather than a reconsideration of the policy decision itself.

Waight stated that the Government remains willing to consult with the union on matters such as staffing arrangements, conditions of service, and options available to officers during the transition. However, he clarified that internal working papers, technical advisory reports, and draft analyses prepared for Cabinet would not be circulated externally. According to the Ministry, only draft legislation, transition frameworks, and employee‑related policies would be shared once they reach a stage suitable for consultation. The Ministry described this approach as consistent with established public service and industrial relations practices and said it remains committed to a fair, transparent, and orderly transition process with due regard for the welfare of affected officers.

The PSU, however, has strongly rejected that position. In a sharply worded response dated January 7, 2026, the union accused the Ministry of Finance of contradicting the spirit and substance of the December 3, 2025 meeting, during which the proposed SARA transition was discussed. According to the PSU, the Ministry’s letter attempts to unilaterally redefine the scope of engagement that had been agreed upon and dismisses the union’s right to fully examine a reform it says carries significant national and economic consequences.

The union maintained that the December 3 meeting was convened specifically to address the comprehensive concerns outlined in its Position Paper, including administrative, financial, and governance implications, not merely narrow employee matters. The PSU further noted that the Ministry of Public Service had proposed the establishment of a working group that would include PSU representation to review draft documents once they were ready. The Finance Ministry’s refusal to share internal analyses and advisory reports, the union argued, effectively excludes it from that process and undermines any claim to transparency.

The PSU framed its objections as a matter of democratic governance. The union categorically rejected the assertion that Cabinet‑level policy determinations fall outside the scope of consultation, arguing that the transition to SARA is a major institutional reform that will reshape revenue collection, public service delivery, and Belize’s fiscal future. The PSU stated that as representatives of public officers and as citizens, they have an inherent right to understand and question the evidence, data, and economic rationale behind such a far‑reaching policy change.

The PSU further warned that any positive or negative economic impact arising from the creation of SARA would directly affect public officers and the broader economic environment in which wage negotiations and public service planning occur. For that reason, the union argued that requests for financial and economic justification are both legitimate and necessary, and that denying access to this information amounts to an erosion of democratic accountability.

In its letter, the PSU issued a series of demands, including the immediate establishment of a joint working group, the release of the CARTAC report and supporting financial analyses that informed Cabinet’s decision, and a comprehensive, point‑by‑point response to all issues raised in its Position Paper. The union also called for a clear and detailed timeline outlining the development and consultation process for draft legislation, human resource frameworks, and transition plans.

The PSU set a deadline of January 16, 2026, for written confirmation from the Government and warned that failure to meet its demands would lead it to conclude that negotiations are not being conducted in good faith. In that event, the union said it would consider all options available to protect the interests of its members and uphold democratic principles.