PSU President continues to rail against the PM’s increase in transportation allowance

The Public Service Union continues to rail against what they say is the high price that taxpayers are footing for the Prime Minister’s transportation allowance. PM John Briceno’s transport fuel allowance was increased by almost 300 percent. The PSU says that the PM’s allowance increase, which went from 1,350 dollars per month to four thousand dollars, was not in the best interest of the Belizean people despite the PM’s explanation. Here’s how the PSU President, Dean Flowers, explained the union’s issue with the allowance increase.

Dean Flowers, President, Public Service Union: “You cannot justify the unjustifiable so I won’t stand here and ask the Prime Minister to justify what could possibly be an increase of $4,000 in transport allowance in addition to perhaps the $1,300 that is already given to ministers who utilize their private motor vehicle. I’d be a fool to ask him to justify that because that is unjustifiable. I currently drive a truck that has been driven by four presidents. I’m the fifth driving that truck. It takes me across this country every single day in some cases every single week, every single day of each week it takes me across the country. I can tell you that in two years I’ve only changed tires once and you know which district I’ve visited the most ? Punta Gorda, Toledo. So I can tell you that it doesn’t cost me thirty percent of what the Prime Minister is getting to maintain my vehicle and I’m positive that I travel as much as he does and Marisol I don’t know if it is that you’re mistaken but no that does not include funds for his fuel. He’s given a fuel card that is pure vehicle maintenance okay ? But I don’t want to get into that because the Prime Minister once again disrespected this country when he said we should be happy that we didn’t have to buy him a vehicle you know ? So I won’t beat that horse anymore. As he said we have beat that horse until it died. The people of Belize will judge the Prime Minister for these actions. He knows very well that he is abusing public funds. He knows very well that he’s abusing his position as Prime Minister when he instructs and authorizes these type of payments to himself.”