Are the Unions Getting a Raw Deal—or Just What They Voted For?

Is the government truly out of money or out of ideas? And should voters hold themselves accountable when promises go unmet? Former Opposition Senator Mike Peyrefitte isn’t holding back when it comes to the ongoing standoff between Belize’s unions and the government. Teachers, public officers, and their managers are still locked in a dispute with the Briceño administration over an eight-and-a-half percent salary adjustment and other unmet demands. But Peyrefitte says the unions shouldn’t be surprised. In his view, the People’s United Party government has failed to grow the economy since taking office in 2020, and now it’s struggling to meet its financial obligations. He points out a tough truth: many public officers voted for this government. Peyrefitte accuses the administration of painting a “rosy picture” of economic success while failing to deliver on promises, especially financial ones. He challenges anyone to name a single new, viable industry that has boosted the economy under the current leadership.

Mike Peyrefitte, Returning Chairman, U.D.P.

“With the unions, well, we could have told them that. The PUP paints this rosy picture of a government that’s flush with cash and doing so well and yet they can’t meet their legal obligations to the unions. Well I say this as well, too, for some of the people in the public service. You also get the government that you vote for. A lot of them voted PUP. This is their government, so they must ask themselves why their government is not helping them and they must see the government that they elected. They are deceptive and they don’t plan on keeping their promises any at all, especially their financial promises. I totally believe them, that they don’t have it. They have not grown this economy since they came to government in 2020. They have done nothing, name me one new growth industry that’s viable that has added to this economy. Name me one. They have done nothing to grow the economy, they have done nothing to generate revenue.”