Government Reviewing Salaries for Police Department Attorneys

Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher has confirmed to Love News that his ministry is working on a salary review for attorneys attached to the Belize Police Department. Usher says, so far, only Assistant Superintendent of Police Stacy Smith has submitted a request for a review of her salary. 

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service: “We are working through the process of making sure that they get the proper increment, the proper remuneration for their degrees. So that’s a process that’s ongoing. I can say that so far I am aware of one of them coming forward and we are assisting her in making sure that she can get that increment.”

The confirmation follows Love News’ September 30 report on concerns regarding  compensation for police officers who are also qualified attorneys. We have since clarified that the department has three attorneys, along with five officers who hold Bachelor of Laws degrees and are completing their Certificate of Legal Education.  A senior source had told Love News that the attorneys were considering resigning unless their pay was brought in line with other government lawyers. Their annual salaries were reported to be approximately thirty-seven thousand dollars, with a proposed increase to around one hundred thousand dollars. Police officers who qualify as attorneys currently remain on salaries tied to their ranks rather than their legal qualifications. Love News also previously reported that a draft Cabinet paper had been sent to Home Affairs Minister Julius Espat, proposing Crown Counsel positions within the department with corresponding salaries.