Friday, March 12, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 NO. 3444 BELIZE CITY, FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021 (32 PAGES) $1.50 Daytime murder in BNTU Simmering Belmopan market BELIZE CITY, Wed. Mar. 10, 2021 The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) has developed a plan of action for its members following the final budget consultation meeting between the union and the Briceño administration. In a release dated Wednesday, March 10, the BNTU laid out 7 steps to be taken by its members leading up to the scheduled budget presentation on March 26, 2021. The release states, “The Government representatives, on one hand, are saying that the proposed measures are not a done deal; however, they are also saying that the proposals are necessary to meet their target. They were not amenable to changes to the targeted BELMOPAN, Tues. Mar. 9, 2021 amounts in their Please turn to„Page 31 A man was brazenly murdered in front of hundreds of people, in broad daylight on Tuesday, March 9 at the Belmopan Market Plaza. The victim, identified as Reginaldo Ruiz, was GOB proposes $240 carrying out his daily work as a fish vendor in Belmopan when he was million in salary cuts approached by a lone gunman and Please turn to„Page 30 BELMOPAN, Fri. Mar. 5, 2021 After weeks of budget consultations with various social 25,000 partners and stakeholders in a number of economic sectors, the Government of Belize has sent a vaccines from letter to labor union leaders India are here Please turn to„Page 31 BELIZE CITY, Mon. Mar. 8, 2021 At about 2:00 p.m on Monday, March 8, 2021, United Airlines Flight No. Budget presentation PSU rebuffs PM 1408 arrived at the Philip Goldson International Airport carrying 25,000 delayed doses of Covid-19 vaccines donated Briceño’s remarks to Belize by the people and the government of India. BELIZE CITY, Wed. The Minister of Health and Wellness Mar. 10, 2021 During an Please turn to„Page 30 interview with the media this Wednesday, Prime Minister Hon. John by Kory Leslie (freelance writer) COVID-19 Briceño informed the public that the budget BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Mar. 11, 2021 for fiscal year 2021- There has been a continuous back and forth between Update 2022 will be the Government of Belize and public officers following (See story on page 29) the announcement of a proposed 10% reduction in the Please„ turn to salaries of public workers. While the consultations remained ongoing up until Page 30 this week, members of the Please turn to„Page 31 CSSPAR says UDP government overly (See story on page 2) politicized PSC NTUCB joins APSSM in support of Dr. Manzanero (See story on page 20) Page 2 AMANDALABelize Friday, March 12, 2021 Senate passes Central Bank Amendment Bill public. When those are made public Smith, who represents the unions of they may be implemented with the the country, decided to abstain from approval of the Minister, and those voting on this bill. During her are things that are designed to use the presentation, she shared the concerns liquidity that is sitting in the system of the National Trade Union Congress and doing nothing. And to say to the of Belize (NTUCB) and said that the domestic banks, there is not any terminology “unusual and exigent individual or it is not the Government economy and financial or systemic that is going to be doing anything, but circumstances” was too broad for the it is saying to the domestic banks that union’s liking. They asked for the the monies that are sitting there idly establishment of a defined set of that are not being put to productive criteria that would be used to use should be put to productive use determine exactly what scenarios fall and be made available to the private under the scope of the terms in the sector.” Senator Courtenay stated. amendment. He shared that the purpose of the “What we don’t want to happen, BELMOPAN, Tues. Mar. 9, 2021 provide liquidity to the system and bill is not to aid any non-performing Madam President, is for mischief to On Tuesday the upper House of not to buffer failing companies, company, and added that these types be created, because it is not clear, Parliament passed the Central Bank according to government senator of legislation have been used in other and we give too much of a space; it Amendment Bill with a divisional Hon. Eamon Courtenay. parts of the world successfully. The is too broad that persons can do what vote of 9 senators voting yes, the 3 “What the bill does is to provide a country is attempting to offset the they believe they are able to do when UDP senators voting no, and senator framework for something to be done. economic fallout by making financing something is too broad.” Senator for the unions, Hon. Elena Smith, It provides for the Central Bank to more accessible, Senator Courtenay Smith explained. abstaining. The amendment to the prepare and produce policies and said in his pitch for the amendment Senator representing the business 2011 legislation is intended to plans that it will, first of all, make that the government is focused on community, Hon. Kevin Herrera starting the march back to economic asked for an additional layer of normalcy. With vaccines now in the oversight for the Government and the NTUCB joins APSSM in country, the PUP administration is Minister of Finance. He also prioritizing “bouncing back” the emphasized that the system has to be economy, he said. properly managed to ensure that that support of Dr. Manzanero And while the PUP’s are hopeful the added liquidity does not have an (From page 1) that this new amendment will bring inflationary effect on the system. some financial relief to our system, “Perhaps an additional oversight various transfers within the office of the UDP senators flatly rejected the should be added to the process, the DHS, “[Manzanero] remains the proposed bill. Lead Opposition perhaps including the social partners. legally appointed and commissioned Senator, Hon. Michael Peyrefitte Again, we’re talking about public Director of Health Services, argued that the bill would need some finances... so I think some oversight unblemished and committed to the “fleshing out” and that the details of mechanism would be very good to cause of healthcare in Belize.” the Central Bank’s new roles would help manage and ensure that the The NTUCB has also expressed its have to be shared with the public first. intended, that what the bill intends, utter disappointment in the Minister “We’re not getting at this point the are secured and that it does not go of Health and Wellness and the Chief details of how it will work and I down a path that we will not like or Executive Officer in the Ministry, and think, Madam President, that that we don’t foresee at this point,” said in reference to claims made by the needs to come fast and furious. Hon. Herrera. MOHW that Dr. Manzanero indirectly Yesterday would be too late. Because During his remarks to end the increased the number of coronavirus then the financial community needs debate surrounding the bill, Senator deaths by failing to accept BAHA’s to appreciate exactly how this Courtenay said, “Madam President, offer to assist in testing, it stated, “The program will run and needs to be tens of thousands of Belizeans are by Dayne Guy COVID-19 pandemic, at that point in confident that the Central Bank will unemployed, thousands of time, was foreign to Belize and unique not give any preferential treatment to businesses have failed, thousands BELIZE CITY, Belize, Thurs. Mar. in all aspects.” A press release from anybody,” Senator Peyrefitte more are on the edge and we say that 11, 2021 the NTUCB further said, “There was commented. we are currently facing an urgent, The National Trade Union no rule book in relation to this He added, “They must not just be unique, unusual and exigent Congress of Belize (NTUCB) has Pandemic.” The union went on to independent, they must also seem to financial circumstance, and we have joined the Association of Public describe the allegations against Dr. be independent. Because what you to have instruments designed by the Service Senior Managers in a public Manzanero as ludicrous. are asking the Central Bank to do now Central Bank promulgated and stance of opposition to what the two The NTUCB further stated in its in this bill is to take an active role in made public so that access can be unions consider the unjust and press release that it believes “these the economy, and if they take an had to some of those funds in unprofessional treatment of Dr. trumped-up charges are retroactively active role in the economy, exactly managed and regulated ways in Marvin Manzanero, Director of being proffered as a desperate attempt what is that role?” order to stimulate, to create jobs and Health Services (DHS). to justify a need for his replacement As mentioned, Senator Elena to get Belize bounced back betta.” Back in February, Dr. Manzanero and serve as a clear disregard for the was placed on administrative leave constitutional guidelines governing so that an investigation could be not only the office of the DHS, but No deaths in 4-car pile-up carried out into alleged misconduct on all Public Officers. The Union Dr. Manzanero’s part. This was done believes these allegations bear no days after there was public outcry substance, rather it demonstrates the on George Price Highway following reports of the doctor’s blatant and unwarranted political supposed demotion and reassignment interference in the Public Service.” BELIZE CITY, Wed.