“Three Hours of Work for One Gallon of Gas”? 

Minimum wage in Belize was another contentious topic discussed during today’s National Trade Union Congress (NTUCB) press conference in Belize City. Union Senator Glenfield Dennison argued that the $5 minimum wage is failing to keep pace with the cost of living and putting working families in a state of struggle to survive.

“It can’t be three hours of work for one gallon of gas,” he said. “But me think one man woulda really wanna work for a fair day’s pay before he decide he gwen thief, rob, and murder… But if a hardworking man have to work all day and can’t make ends meet, brother, he gwen in the shop, and thief the potted meat and the sausage to carry home and feed he pikni.” 

“Dah wa slave mill we inna still,” he added. 

Dennison said the Government needs a serious plan to create opportunities and reduce the pressure on families. He also criticised the dependence on politicians for financial assistance as what he called “vote buying with public money.” 

“It can’t be that you’re going to your area rep to go beg ah to please pay your tuition for your pikni them, and then they remind you about it election day. That is vote buying with public money, straight talk,” he said. 

Dennison added, “Forty-five years as a country and this is where we are? Dah like we the regress.”