Government Makes Compromise with BERT; $45,000 for 6 Months

The Government, in a press release this evening, announced it has reached agreement for the continuation of emergency services by BERT. G.O.B. has committed to grant Belize Emergency Response Team forty-five thousand dollars per month for the next six months while the two sides continue negotiations over the long-term financial sustainability of BERT’s land ambulance services. It is a temporary resolution to a problem that flared in the last two years, when several of BERT’s emergency medical technicians left the service for greener pastures with the Government, and the organization lobbied Government for additional funding to match the salaries and services of the remaining EMT’s. The Ministry of Health hopes that negotiations will result in a permanent result that will sustain the management and essential services provided by BERT, as part of its overall commitment for quality emergency services. This keeps BERT’s doors open and ensures that ambulances and other primary care services are available for the population of the Belize District. BERT has expressed plans to expand its service nationwide.