G.O.B. Employee Says Allowances Due to Her Still Outstanding

One public servant is tonight alleging that the Government of Belize, specifically the Department of Youth Services, has up to four thousand dollars in subsistence and meal allowances outstanding to her. Nichole McDonald showed up to our office in her work uniform. She says that she has been employed with G.O.B. for the last sixteen years. She went on to explain that she was deployed to Mountain Pine Ridge in April 2023 to work as a matron at the youth facility which was shut down several months later. She further explained that she was then moved to Belize City, later Belmopan and then back to Belize City. According to McDonald, during this period she operated with the understanding that she would be receiving subsistence, meal allowances and travel allowance. She asserts that the Department of Youth Services has withheld those payments from her, except for three thousand dollars that have been paid. But McDonald is likely to face disciplinary action after she visited the D.Y.S. Finance Officer and allegedly caused a public disturbance while demanding the money. The letter further asserts that McDonald has launched a social media campaign against the finance officer which is against the Public Service Regulations. Today she told us that she has six children at home that need school supplies, and that she will continue to speak out.

 

Nichole McDonald, Matron, Department of Youth Service

“In the public service regulations it says if you move from one point to another point it comes with allowances.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And that includes?”

 

Nichole McDonald

“Food and mileage.”

 

Paul Lopez

“And were you getting those?”

 

Nichole McDonald

“No sir, that is why it amounts to four thousand dollars plus.”

Paul Lopez

“And this would be monies you spent out of pocket?”

 

Nichole McDonald

“Yes, and I use my money while my pay stopped. My gentleman, my fiancé, he was the one that floated me to go to Belmopan every day. Unfortunately for me, because of going to her she deemed me disrespectful. I am not disrespectful. What is mine, please give me mine. The way I approached her on more than one occasion. I had a tension headache. I didn’t eat that day. I didn’t have money to feed my kid that day. The AO had to lend me a hundred that day. How do you think I feel?”

 

Paul Lopez

“The letter written to you recently says you went in there and you gone on rambunctious.”

 

Nichole McDonald

“I didn’t go on rambunctious. Give me what is for me. Give me what is mine. I done work for that. Give me that, like what Supa G said, give me that I work for that. Like what Bob Marley said, get up and stand up for your rights, that is what I am doing.”