Government Confirms Retroactive Allowances for Frontline Officers

The Government of Belize has issued an official update on the long-awaited activation of allowances for frontline public officers, confirming that several approved benefits have now been formally included in the Compendium of Allowances, clearing the way for implementation.  In a Circular Memorandum dated January 6, the Ministry of the Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, with the support of the Ministry of Finance and approval of the Joint Staff Relations Council (JSRC).  Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Henry Usher, spoke on the allowances, confirming that they will be retroactive.

Henry Charles Usher, Fort George Area Representative: “So, the allowances that we’ve been working on, and it’s something that I met when I got the portfolio of disaster risk management, I didn’t realize that our firefighters at our NEMO officers were not getting these allowances that they should have gotten. We’ve been working on it for some time and I’m happy that those allowances have been approved, and Ministry of Finance has gone ahead to make sure that they will be paid retroactive to May the 1st. So, these are firefighters and members from NEMO, and some medical officers will be getting these allowances retro.”

The allowances take effect retroactively from May 1, 2025.  For the National Fire Service, the approved allowances include $200 monthly Hazard (Danger) Allowance for all firemen; $300 monthly Hazard (Wet and Dirty Conditions) Allowance; $200 monthly Availability (Quick Response) Allowance for firemen assigned to Emergency Medical Services and certified paramedics, and $300 monthly Housing Allowance for transferred firemen who are not provided with government quarters.  For the Ministry of Health and Wellness, eligible frontline workers, including assistant radiographers, domestic auxiliaries, patient care assistants, dental surgeons, and dental assistants, will receive a $200 monthly Hazard (Danger) Allowance.