On July 24, 2026, Belize’s Public Service Union (PSU) marked a historic milestone: 104 years of unwavering advocacy for the nation’s public sector workers. Founded in 1922, the union has cemented its role as a foundational force in Belizean labor, consistently defending worker rights and pushing for improved working conditions and benefits across all public service departments. As the organization enters its 105th year of operation, it is gearing up to host its 104th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in mid-August, centered on the unifying theme “One Vision, One Voice, One Union: PSU, One Hundred Four Years Strong.”
PSU President Dean Flowers opened up about the union’s enduring legacy and current priorities in remarks ahead of the gathering, noting that the organization has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of Belizean society and national development since its early days. For the first time in the union’s history, the 2026 AGM will be held on weekdays, scheduled for August 13 and 14, a strategic shift designed to boost member turnout. Organizers hope the mid-week scheduling will allow more rank-and-file members to attend, engage with the union’s work, and deepen their understanding of core trade union principles.
Flowers emphasized that solidarity, a core value of the PSU, is far more than a rhetorical buzzword. “Solidarity is not shouting the word. Solidarity is hitting the ground. Solidarity is standing shoulder to shoulder when we need to do that on the pavement,” he told attendees of the pre-AGM announcement. The event will also include internal leadership elections for multiple key positions within the union: aside from Flowers’ current post, which will not be up for contention until next year, ballots will be cast for first vice president, assistant general secretary, national treasurer, two counselor seats, and three trustee seats. Nominations for these roles are currently open, and Flowers has encouraged committed members with a deep understanding of trade union organizing to put their names forward.
Beyond the election cycle, Flowers urged aspiring union leaders to leverage the PSU’s ongoing training programs, which are offered year-round to build capacity among members interested in taking on leadership roles. He stressed that broad, engaged participation from the union’s membership base is critical to addressing the pressing challenges facing modern public sector workers in Belize. Among the most pressing issues the union is currently tackling are the ongoing transition related to the Staff Authority and Retirement Act (SARA), uncertainties surrounding the status of terminal workers, and ongoing fights to protect and expand employee benefits for all public officers.
As the PSU celebrates more than a century of worker advocacy, its leadership has reiterated that collective solidarity remains the most powerful tool to advance the interests of Belize’s public service workforce, ahead of the August general meeting.