Ministry meets with Fire Service to resolve Go Slow

The Ministry of Disaster Risk Management met with the Belize National Fire Service today to resolve the apparent go-slow by fire personnel in three municipalities. Last Friday, fire personnel in Belize City, Benque Viejo, and San Pedro voted to enact a go-slow after the ministry moved to limit their overtime hours. While the ministry stated it was a necessary cost-saving measure, the public officers disagreed and claimed it was due to poor management. The men say the decision, which limits them to collecting only eight of overtime, coupled with less-than-optimal working conditions, forced them to act. The personnel claimed they would no longer respond to bushfires and discontinue community service efforts until the change is reversed. However, today, thirteen fire personnel and the President of the Public Service Union (PUS) met with the ministry and pledged to resolve the issues. Minister of Disaster Risk Management Andre Perez spoke on the concerns and stated that his ministry understands the department’s plight. 

Andre Perez, Minister, Disaster Risk Management: “As a ministry we understand that you know everybody counts on that extra overtime and as usual your salary ou try to go that extra mile to do the extra work. I know that they did mention of a couple of them, I won’t say everybody, a couple of them mentioned that they were going to go slow and in the event of a bush fire or a home that they will not be responding or taking their time and as I said earlier you know I’ve met with them. I’ve really been along the length and breath of this country meeting with the fire department and they’re good people. I’m confident at the end of the day that at the call of duty they will respond. Now back to what you’re asking me is that we have made all the adjustments, a lot of things have been done in the fire department and first of all to deal with the overtime we’ve made the necessary adjustments. We’ve met and correcting it and to see that some of them do not get shorted. One of the things I want to share is that over time is always something that we will support but you know when you have certain extreme cases where people are getting almost double their over time and then that we are saying that is not fiscally prudent. We have to make those changes and with the new installation of administration assistants within the fire department we start to realize that certain things are not right. But at the same time the other side there are many things stuck in the office where we’re having salary adjustments in terms of salary increase, promotions, these things are not being properly addressed so now that is being straightened out at the same time. But unfortunately with those comes out the fact that certain people are getting double the amount of overtime that they should be earning when we can pass it on to other people to do it. Last but not least remember we had an intake of another twenty three firefighters so we have to provide salaries for them. So that is also another factor we had to straighten out the overtime and the unfortunately didn’t lie too good. We’re negotiating with them. We’re offering them alternatives….listen we’re meeting with you. We’re not cutting your total overtime but listen but certainly you can’t be getting those big overtimes.”

Perez conceded that the department needs modern equipment and explained that they are working at new acquisitions.  Additionally, he says the ministry is working to acquire funding to build a new fire station in Belize City.