By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says he remains hesitant about proposals to reduce or eliminate allowances provided to government ministers, arguing that the money is frequently used to assist Belizeans seeking financial help.
Speaking to reporters following his return from Bangkok, Briceño acknowledged that he had previously expressed a willingness to consider changes to ministerial allowances.
However, he said Cabinet has not yet held a comprehensive discussion on the matter and suggested it could be raised at its next meeting.
The Prime Minister defended the allowances, explaining that ministers regularly receive requests for assistance involving education, medical expenses and families experiencing financial difficulties.
According to Briceño, removing the allowances would reduce the resources available to ministers to respond to these requests.
He maintained that ministers often spend beyond the amount provided through their allowances because of the financial demands placed upon them by constituents.
Briceño acknowledged that eliminating allowances might be politically appealing but suggested that such a decision could have unintended consequences for those who depend on assistance from elected representatives.
The Prime Minister did not announce any changes to the existing arrangements, leaving the matter open for further Cabinet consideration.
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