Public Service Workers Celebrated Amid Mounting Chaos

Even as tensions rise between the Joint Union Negotiating Team and the Government of Belize, the Ministry of Public Service is keeping the party going. Despite ongoing protests, sickouts, and even a formal trade dispute over salary increases, the Ministry went ahead with its Public Service Worker Appreciation Day. That’s right, while union members are demanding an eight-point-five percent raise and warning of a possible strike, public officers from across the country gathered today for a celebration filled with prizes, surprises, and motivational speeches. So, is this a moment of gratitude or a distraction from the storm? News Five takes a closer look, starting with Freya August, Chair of the Public Service Day National Committee.

 

Freya August, Chair, Public Service Day National Committee

“ We had a national walk, so the public officers coming from north, south, east and west, including San Pedro, came here to walk to celebrate the fact that we are proud to be public officers. This is a part of the ongoing celebration, as you’ve said, in celebrating. Public service. This year actually makes twenty years since Belize has signed on to the United Nations Public Service. So we wanted to do a different event as opposed to public officers walking in their individual districts. We asked them to all come to Belmont Plan and walk together.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And what’s the theme that you guys are celebrating under this year?”

 

Freya August

“Five years to 2030, accelerating public service delivery for a sustainable future. That team was adopted from the un. Each year we would normally have a team competition, and that would be among the public officers. However, this year for the milestone, we decided to have a poster competition.”