PM discusses increase in his transport allowance

Yesterday, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize criticised the Government for its decision to increase the transport fuel allowance for Prime Minister John Briceño. The monthly increase is almost 300 percent, going from 1,350 dollars per month to four thousand dollars even. Prime Minister Briceño was on Independence Hill for today’s sitting of the House of Representatives and he was asked the rationale behind it.

Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize: “I have not burdened the government with a vehicle. I decided to buy my own. But what they do is they give you an allowance but in my case now the issue is that if the government were to give me a vehicle and then they pay for the repairs of my vehicle we will spend way more than $4,000 a month. Unlike the previous Prime Minister who spent most of his time in Belize City and sometimes came to Belmopan I’m all over the country. So the repairs to my vehicle is very high and so I’ve taken that on my own I don’t know what else I can say I think I’ve explained that many times over.”

The PM insists that if he were to get a government vehicle and pay for the upkeep and repairs, it will be cost more than the allowance he’s now receiving. He often uses his vehicle to attend official events.