PRIME MINISTER TO MEET WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS NEXT WEEK

January 04, 2008

Cabinet held its first regular meeting of the New Year yesterday. Ministers received a briefing from the Director of Governance on the state of preparedness of the Elections and Boundaries Department to conduct the general election and referendum on an elected Senate. Cabinet decided to invite the Commonwealth Secretariat to send election monitors to Belize to observe the conduct of the upcoming elections. Prime Minister Said Musa has since contacted the Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon to relay the request for observers.  Cabinet also supported a commitment by the Prime Minister to approve salary increases for teachers, nurses, policemen and other public officers. The salary increases will be included in the budget for fiscal year 2008 – 2009 and will take effect on April 1. In the case of officers and members of the Belize Defence Force, Cabinet approved a rationalization of their pay scales to remove anomalies and discrepancies and to put the benefits offered to officers and soldiers on the same level as teachers, nurses, policemen and other officers in the public service. Cabinet approved new pay scales for regular soldiers which will in effect raise their salaries between five and eight per cent. Pay scales for officers were extended to take account of younger and more qualified officers who are now entering the force and would be expected to move rapidly up the ranks. Extension of officers’ pay scales will also benefit serving offices who have remained at the end point on their salary scale. Cabinet agreed to amend the Defence Pensions Regulations to make retirement benefits for soldiers more compatible with those of regular public officers. The Cabinet report ends by saying Prime Minister Musa will be hosting representatives of the religious community to a prayer breakfast next Monday. The Prime Minister will listen and take into account their views on the current political, moral and security situation in Belize and join them in prayer for a safe and secure future for all Belizeans. Members of Cabinet will also be attending the breakfast.

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