A significant institutional conflict has emerged between the Belizean government and the Public Service Union regarding the proposed transformation of the Belize Tax Service Department into a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority. The dispute centers on transparency concerns and alleged backtracking on previous consultation agreements.
The confrontation escalated through an exchange of formal correspondence between Financial Secretary Joseph Waight and PSU President Dean Flowers. In December 2025, the Ministry of Finance confirmed Cabinet’s definitive policy decision to advance with SARA’s establishment while acknowledging the union’s engagement. The government maintained that future discussions would concentrate exclusively on implementation matters affecting employees rather than reconsidering the fundamental policy direction.
Government officials expressed willingness to consult on staffing arrangements, service conditions, and transition options for officers. However, they explicitly declined to circulate internal working documents, technical advisory reports, and Cabinet draft analyses, citing established public service protocols. The ministry emphasized that only draft legislation and employee-related policies would be shared once they reached appropriate consultation stages.
The PSU issued a vehement rebuttal in January 2026, accusing the finance ministry of contravening the spirit and substance of previous agreements. The union asserted that the government’s position unilaterally redefined the engagement scope and disregarded their right to comprehensively examine a reform with profound national implications.
Union leadership framed the conflict as a fundamental democratic governance issue, rejecting the notion that Cabinet-level policy determinations should remain beyond consultative scrutiny. They emphasized that the SARA transition represents a monumental institutional overhaul that will reshape revenue collection, public service delivery, and Belize’s fiscal trajectory.
The PSU formally demanded immediate establishment of a joint working group, full disclosure of the CARTAC report and supporting financial analyses, and detailed responses to all issues raised in their Position Paper. They additionally requested a comprehensive timeline outlining legislative development and consultation processes.
The union established a January 16, 2026 deadline for government compliance, warning that failure to meet these demands would signal negotiations conducted in bad faith. The PSU indicated readiness to pursue all available options to protect member interests and uphold democratic principles.