Yesterday in the House of Representatives, Patrick Faber laid it on the Chamber of Commerce. That's after the Chamber sent out a release saying it supports the teachers for a raise. Faber said why don't they raise the minimum wage, and let the business community stop gouging consumers. That's a double ouch, and today the Chamber fired back.
The Chamber says it has to clarify, that it supports a phased - in, merit-based increase. It seems to backtrack, somewhat, saying, quote, "We cannot support the notion of an across-the-board public sector wage increase."
As to his cutting remarks about the minimum wage, the Chamber says, quote,
"our response is that businesses that are good corporate citizens pay a disproportionate amount of taxes, leaving a diminished amount of resources with which to create jobs and pay employees." It adds, quote, "those disproportionate taxes cause the citizens of Belize to pay higher prices on goods and services because they directly and severely impact the cost of doing business."
It adds, "Attempts by a Minister to insult and threaten the largest taxpaying group in the country because he had not carefully read our press release is certainly not the wisest course of action for healthy partnership and development."
And just to even things out, the Chamber threw another blow - a slightly low one - saying, quote, "we also object to the notion that government ministers can treat statutory bodies within their portfolios as though they are their own private businesses." This, of course, is in reference to the Castro Belize Airports Authority cheque scheme.
They sent that at 2:00 pm, and not to be outdone, by 6:00 pm, Faber had fired back. He recaps his statement in the House, and adds, quote, "Is the Chamber by its latest release saying that non public-sector workers in this country don't need an upward adjustment in their wage/salaries? Are they (SAYING)that there is no need for adjusting the minimum wage as well as wages and salaries in general?"
Faber closes by saying, "the Private Sector is far from perfect and has an equal obligation to citizens and the nation's economy to do its part." ENDS
Email
Print