PSU Urges Senators to Scrutinize Revenue Authority Bill

The Public Service Union is urging senators to closely examine the proposed Belize Revenue Authority Bill. PSU President Dean Flowers says it gives government officials too much power and leaves workers’ pensions and benefits uncertain. While the Ministry of Finance says the reform will modernize tax services and strengthen revenue collection, the union insists major questions about transparency, accountability and ministerial control remain unanswered.

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“This bill will have some, will raise some very serious conversation, not where workers are concerned, but here accountability, justification, and the kind of language that is in this bill. They know that this no fly, especially the ministerial discretionary power, which they said they want with themselves first. Me not write their manifesto. I did not write it. They wrote it. So why do they go this route? Giving the CEO and the minister so much power. The bill in its current form, the government is fully aware, will not pass in the Senate. As a matter of fact, I have been apprised that what they might attempt to do is to, what they have done on several controversial bill, they try meet with the Senate on one or two occasions prior to the sitting to really hear any concern, hear any questions, see what part they could compromise to ultimately  get it passed. As I have also been advised, there’s an opportunity for the government to  usurp the Senate. My  choice of words, usurp the Senate by once the Senate voting down the bill or not supporting the bill to wait for, I believe it’s thirty days, I understand, in accordance with the Constitution, and move it to assent by the  by the governor general under the context that it’s a money bill. That’s an avenue, but I don’t know that the government wants to go that route.”

 

Tax Service Employees Warned Against Rushed Decision

 

Do not rush to join the proposed Belize Revenue Authority. That is the warning PSU President Dean Flowers is giving employees of the Belize Tax Service Department. Flowers argues that the reform would effectively abolish their current posts, potentially entitling affected workers to pension and retirement benefits under the Pensions Act. He says government has not clearly explained what employees could gain or lose by moving to the new entity and is urging them to understand their rights before deciding.

 

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union

“Based on their presentation, there’s only one hundred and fifty-three positions that will be filled. It suggests that at least eighty odd people would have been promised a guaranteed position. Even though in one of their response, they said, well, every single position will be interviewed for. Well, clearly, whether even if that is the case, there’ll be some guaranteed, position already being offered to some people, and we already see it because we’re already noticing how some people di move. So we already know that some people have been spoken to with certain, with certain forms of guarantee. So we expect that a percentage will sign on. What we’re hoping is that the vast majority will not choose,  to sign on, will not sign on, and also, that the vast majority will not resign or retire for that matter. Because effectively, the government of Belize by way of this bill has abolished or seeks to abolish their office. It means that you have to respect the Pensions Act where the abolishment of these people’s offices is concerned, and this is key again for the Belizean people. The Belizean people need to understand, that once this bill is affected, effectively you’ve abolished these offices and you, taxpayers, now have a duty and an obligation to pay these people a pension for life.”

 

The PSU also called on the Senate and the National Trade Union Congress of Belize to closely scrutinize the bill and move beyond statements of support to mobilize against the bill.

 

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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