BTS Faces Major Shake-up as Unions Brief Staff on SARA Shift

The Belize Tax Service might soon look very different, and today, union leaders made sure staff were in the loop. The Public Service Union and the Association of Public Service Senior Managers met with BTS employees to talk about the proposed shift to a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority, or SARA. Fresh from talks with the Ministries of Finance and Public Service, PSU President Dean Flowers led the session to break down what this transition could mean for workers. Staff from across the country showed up, except for the Punta Gorda and San Pedro branches.

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“It was very important for us to have this meeting with staff, because what we learned in that meeting on July sixteenth was that there had been no consultation with staff and this transition stands to affect all two hundred and thirty-six staff members considering options being afforded to them.”

 

Reporter

“How do you counter what the management of the BTS is saying. They say you are making much ado about nothing, that all there employes will have a place to come to when the transition is done.”

 

Dean Flowers

“As the director would have suggested to the media last week, staff members will be afforded the opportunity to resign, transfer into the wider public service or transition into SARA.”