Tuesday, April 13, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 1 NO. 3451 BELIZE CITY, TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2021 (20 PAGES) $1.00 PM Briceño presents lean budget “The National Budget is really a Budget about all the people — working people and business people 55 schools -– because from its birth to its burial, the National Budget touches all Belizeans in some way or the reopened other.” — Prime Minister Briceño BELMOPAN, Mon. Apr. 12, 2021 Representatives. His budget, titled On Friday, the Draft Estimates of “Today’s Sacrifice: Tomorrow’s Revenues and Expenditure for the Triumph!” outlined his government’s Fiscal Year 2021-2022 was goals to address the economic crisis presented by Prime Minister John Briceño. The PM delivered the Please turn toPage 19 national budget using a teleprompter, a first for the House of UDP discontinues UDP walks out after Julius claim against calls Patrick “boy” Mayor Wagner BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 12, 2021 In late March, Cabinet approved the phased reopening of schools across the country, starting Monday, April 12, 2021. A memo issued by the CEO in the Ministry of Education announced that schools would be opened in two BELIZE CITY, Mon. Apr. 12, 2021 groups, with the first group reopening BELMOPAN, Fri. Apr. 9, 2021 the House of Representatives meeting The United Democratic Party has their classrooms on April 12. It has The Leader of the Opposition, at which this year’s budget was decided to withdraw its Supreme been one year since schools shuttered Hon. Patrick Faber, staged an opposition walkout on Friday from Please turn toPage 18 Please turn toPage 19 Please turn toPage 4 Siblings hit by truck, 11-year-old girl dies MOHW investigating post- vaccination death by Dayne Guy SANTA FAMILIA, Cayo, (See story on page 2) Mon. Apr. 12, 2021 On Thursday evening, Governor General resigns 11-year-old Keiana Cruz (See story on page 3) died after a van ran over her just a stone’s throw away from her home in Santa Familia Village, COVID-19 update Cayo. Reports state that (See story on page 17) Please turn toPage 18 Page 2 AMANDALABelize Tuesday, April 13, 2021 BNTU awaiting GOB to reform membership mandate pension program details in a letter, then that decision could have been taken today. So our members are now taking a position based on two things: a ten-percent across the board or a tiered approach which should amount to this sixty million and the twenty million,” Smith told News5. The members of the union will now have to vote in order for the union to BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Apr. 8, 2021 determine what position it will take At this time, the membership of the and decide what kind of action they Belize National Teachers Union will take going forward. The union (BNTU) has not come to a final has since started a survey to arrive decision on whether or not they will at this decision. accept the 10% salary cuts that are The Public Service Union (PSU), to be put in place by the government. on the other hand, is awaiting legal Initially, the BNTU had stated that its advice before sending a letter of membership was opposed to any form notice of industrial action to the BELIZE CITY, Sun. Apr. 11, 2021 revisited and that they intend to of salary cut or increment freeze. government. Smith said that they During his budget presentation, transform the pension program to a Following the announcement by would have to unite their forces and Prime Minister John Briceño said contributory scheme, with payment Prime Minister John Briceño of his carry out industrial action on a that the cost of non-contributory coming either from employers or government’s decision to continue as different level and in different phases pension payments has become beneficiaries or both, or they might scheduled with the proposed pay cuts, due to the difference in the untenable. While outlining his merge the public pension program and a two-day national convention composition of the two unions. austerity budget, he mentioned that a with the Social Security system.” held by the BNTU, their national Smith said that the spirit of the major aspect of his government’s “Government must move now to president, Senator Elena Smith, negotiations died when the Prime long-term recovery plan is to engage transform the public pension scheme updated the public on the union’s Minister decided to unilaterally sign in urgent public pension reform. to a contributory structure, either current position. off on the salary cuts without getting “Noncontributory pension standing on its own with payments In essence, she shared that the the blessing of the Joint Unions. payments in the budget have neared from both employer and beneficiary Government has not given them “If you are not willing to move $100 million for a single year. That or a merger of the public pension adequate details of the concessions your goalpost from where you are level of spending is simply untenable. program and the Social Security that the administration has proposed and it has to be sixty or nothing; When we left office in 2008, the System,” said PM Briceño. to provide as an incentive for the that’s not how we negotiate. That’s annual cost of pensions was $38 For years, the previous unions to accept the proposals. not how we consult. You don’t million. Today that has virtually administration had avoided “We cannot expect our members consult by coming to tell me, ‘I will tripled,” PM Briceño said. addressing the issue of non- to say ‘yes, we will give up our ten do this and it matters not what you He said that the structure of the contributory pension payments until because you are going to be giving say, I will still do this’,” Smith said. pension program would have to be now. us ABC,’ when they don’t know those We will continue to follow this details. And had we gotten those story. New Corozal Bay rep sworn in MOHW investigating post- vaccination death (From page 1) BELMOPAN, Sat. Apr. 10, 2021 it’s not only a man’s world, but it’s a Elvia Vega-Samos, who defeated woman’s world as well, and I am the UDP’s Hilberto Campos in a by- here to work. I am here to represent election in Corozal Bay in early the people of Corozal Bay, to be the March, was sworn in as area rep voice that they truly deserve to have.” during Friday’s House meeting, the During his budget presentation, the first held in two months. Prime Minister, Hon. John Briceño, Samos was selected as a PUP remarked, “On this side of the House, candidate in that division after the we grieve for our colleague and BELIZE CITY, Fri. Apr. 9, 2021 currently awaiting the results of a post- death of her brother, David “Dido” friend from Corozal Bay, the late The Ministry of Health and Wellness mortem exam on the fisherman’s body Vega, who lost his life as a result of David Vega, who left us far too early. is currently investigating the passing to ascertain the cause of his death. COVID-19 complications just days To the new Representative from of a 53-year-old fisherman who They are trying to determine after unseating Corozal Bay’s former Corozal Bay, the Hon. Elvia Vega- reportedly died four hours after whether the 53-year-old had any area representative, Pablo Marin. Samos, Dido Vega’s sister, we offer receiving his first jab of the Oxford/ underlying medical condition which “Today is a very important day for first our solidarity and of course our AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. could have contributed to his possible Corozalenos. As you see, they are congratulations and full support.” This is the first vaccine-related reaction to the vaccine and his ultimate here today in full support, and I will Elvia Vega-Samos became the death in the country that the Ministry death. forever be thankful to all of them.” fifth woman in the National is looking into. Health Minister Michel We will continue to follow this Hon. Samos remarked on Friday, Assembly following her swearing- Chebat confirmed that his Ministry is case. She added, “As I always mention, in. Tuesday, April 13, 2021 AMANDALABelize Page 3 Governor General resigns PM’s sister reportedly (From page 1) by Dayne Guy owes millions in GST BELMOPAN, Tues. Apr. 6, 2021 After 27 years of stellar service, BELMOPAN, Sat. Apr. His Excellency, Sir Colville Norbert 10, 2021 Young, who is the longest-serving During an interview Governor General in Commonwealth after the House of history, has given Prime Minister Representatives meeting John Briceno his letter of resignation. was adjourned on Sir Colville Young was born on Friday, the Prime November 20, 1932, and is a graduate Minister, Hon. John of St. Michael’s College in Belize Briceño, was asked to City. He attended the University of comment on reports that the West Indies, where he earned a Speednet Bachelor’s degree with honors in Communications Ltd., the English; and York University, where parent company of Smart he earned his Doctorate of Belize, allegedly owes Philosophy in English. about $11.1 million in In his letter of resignation, Sir GST to the Government Colville Young stated, “It has been of Belize. an honor and great privilege to serve “I am very grateful to the unselfish The Prime Minister’s our nation during my term in office, service that the Governor General sister, Vanessa Briceño, and it is my hope that I have made a gave to this country, and I am hopeful is the listed taxpayer for the company, value that they are getting is about difference in the lives of many, a that all of us can use him as an which has fallen deep in a tax hole 12 cents on what is being sold.