Public Service Union to tackle BAHA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement

The Public Service Union (PSU) says it will be placing renewed focus on the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), amid concerns about transparency, finances, and outstanding labour matters.  Speaking recently, Dean Flowers, President of the Public Service Union, said the union has observed what it believes may be efforts by Belize Agricultural Health Authority to avoid full disclosure of its financial position.  Flowers noted that financial transparency will be a key area of focus for the union as it intensifies its engagement with BAHA this year.

Dean Flowers, President, PSU: “Where the statutory bodies are concerned, we continue to call for greater transparency. There continues to be, in my view, a lack of cooperation from BAHA. We do have a CBA with BAHA. We’ve been asking for BAHA to disclose their financial statements. They have not done so. We do not know what exactly it is that BAHA has to hide when the BAHA Act requires them to lay those financial statements on the table for all Belizeans to see. And so as the BAHA CBA also comes to an end, I believe, in this year, there will be a need for us to really look at the financial position of BAHA to ensure that our members at BAHA are properly represented in every way, shape and form.”

In addition to financial concerns, Flowers said the PSU will also be turning its attention to Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for BAHA employees. He explained that addressing the CBA is one of the union’s priorities for 2026, as workers continue to seek clarity and improved terms and conditions of employment.  The PSU President also raised questions about a reported ten percent salary increase for BAHA employees, which he says was recently approved. According to Flowers, correspondence he reviewed suggests the increase was sanctioned, but he described the development as “very suspect,” particularly in light of unresolved financial and contractual issues.

Dean Flowers, President, PSU: “I believe I saw today in anticipation of knowing fully well the fight that is ahead BAHA would have, I saw something whereby they approved a 10% increase in the salaries of their officers. I haven’t properly read it but it seemed to suggest that. And I know all these moves are in anticipation of what, of the expiration of that CBA. And in my view a deliberate attempt to continue to hide the financial position of BAHA from the Belizean people and more so from the employees who stand to benefit if we’re able to better understand what’s the financial position of BAHA and what exactly they’re able to afford in terms of improvement for the public officers there. These statutory bodies are public service entities. Whether they like it or not, they may be run by a board or otherwise but they’re simply registered as under the Companies Act. But at the end of the day, they remain under the direction of the Government of Belize who appoints the board. they remain public entities providing public service and who owe a duty and an obligation.”

BAHA has not yet publicly responded to the union’s claims. The PSU says it expects engagement with BAHA’s management and relevant authorities as it seeks answers on the agency’s finances, the reported salary adjustment, and progress toward a finalized Collective Bargaining Agreement.