RESPECTFUL PARTNERSHIP

In today’s social media-riddled politics, we often meet groups who claim to not be political. The reason most often for an anti-political stance is that they would not withstand the rigors of election polls. Oftentimes, these groups do not have the capacity to lead and govern a nation with all its complexities. As today’s politics in Belize will have it, these groups often challenge and antagonize the government as a political party would. Often, these groups overlook the progress and gains of the Government of the people to focus on other points biased toward their cause. Since these groups are often comparatively small in numbers, they join in 'umbrella' groups with fancier names and find some common dissent to approach the Briceño administration called planBelize GoB. After all, the planBelize Government listens to everyone: this includes the ex-mass party of 8 members, the Unions, Nongovernmental Organizations, the Business Community, the Churches, the youths, the women, the children, and the electorate. The balancing act of 'Everybody fih win' is keenly guided by planBelize, PM John Briceño’s charisma, our Area Representatives, Senators, and the Cabinet.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister John Briceño, his deputy Hon. Cordel Hyde and most recent past Party Leader Hon. Francis Fonseca met with members of the National Trade Union Congress, one of those umbrella groups. The premise is that all individuals and groups of Belizeans are equally relevant and of dire importance to the planBelize administration. The Briceño administration listens to all with respectful ears with the intent of being a partner with all Belizeans. The unions in the NTUCB have been granted a meeting with the government twice a year. This is the respect for the NTUCB that is often reciprocated in these meetings. This time more of their membership/executives were a part of the meeting. This is cause for praise but some cynics in the media allowed their myopia to blind the fact that the government of the people is sitting with the people. A government elected by a body politic of 31 constituencies listens to the concerns of 12 Unions because all partnerships are important. Post-meeting, the leadership of the NTUCB voiced satisfaction with being able to sit at the table and be heard. They, like the government, are looking forward to improvements in their agenda items which the PM has called “real progressive work being done under the responsible governance agenda of #PlanBelize.”

The GoB discussed with the NTUCB the status of the Occupational Safety and Health Bill; International Labour Organization Conventions 158 and 155. Also, they made inroads to work being done in Campaign Finance Regulations, Whistleblowers Regulations, and Civil Asset Recovery and Unexplained Wealth Bill. The government is poised to work towards the tenets of good governance. Broader topics touching all Belizeans were inflation and fuel prices.

This partnership with social partners has become the hallmark of this administration's intent on following planBelize. For example, the Joint Public Accounts Committee of the House is another testament to the government fulfilling its mandate to more openness and transparency with respect to the social partners as meaningful in the governance of the country. Minister of Public Service Henry Charles Usher stated to this paper that the working relationship between the Government and the collective bargaining agent of public officers is critical for the efficient and effective delivery of government services. There is nothing wrong with disagreements, but the discourse must be respectful and constructive.

With a respectful partnership Belize will continue on its path to progress where more Belizeans will see their quality of life improve, where health care is addressed efficiently, where education is effective, where jobs are available, where a House and Lot move from dream to reality. This is the essence of planBelize; every man, woman, and child is assured of a comfortable living as long as they are ready to go to school and work. The Briceño administration will continue to listen to all and make decisions that will benefit the Belizean people.