No Final Decision on Salary Adjustments for B.D.F. Soldiers  

The Belize Defense Force made an administrative error back in 2019 that had soldiers being overpaid. As a result, their salaries must be brought in line with those of the police and coast guard. Now, it is not being described as a pay cut but rather a correction. Today, we asked the Minister of National Defense for an update, and he said that it is not as simple as it looks and that the process will include various ministries and the introduction of a new allowance for soldiers.

 

Florencio Marin Jr. Minister of National Defense

“I like how you put it, we keep bringing it up every single time. This is not a one time we fix. We have to thoroughly go through a full review of the soldier’s salary. We have to do this with the ministry of the public service, the ministry of finance and our ministry. It is not a onetime fix; we don’t just move them up a scale or bring them down a scale. It will be resolved. We have to move through the thing thoroughly and we have to move very quick. We are also including the new allowances that will be put in for the benefit of our soldiers. I know you are bringing it up every time and it is not a speed that everyone likes, but it is an urgency for the ministry.”