As the calendar hits April 20, 2026, the recently installed leadership team at Belize’s Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority (KHMH) — the nation’s largest and busiest public health facility — is already facing its first critical test just days after announcing a new era of collaborative leadership. Fresh off pledges of partnership between hospital management and the KHMH Workers Union (KHMHAU), collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations are days away, and core demands have already set the stage for tense discussions, with outcomes that could reshape working conditions and patient care for years to come.
The talks mark the first major milestone in what both sides have framed as a new chapter for the struggling public hospital, opening with a thin veil of cautious optimism that is quickly giving way to high-stakes bargaining. For union leadership, returning to the negotiation table to hash out a new CBA is the top immediate priority, according to KHMHAU President Roy Briceno.
“What me and my executive committee are focused on, first and foremost, is getting back around the table and launching these CBA negotiations,” Briceno stated. “That is our primary goal — it’s critical for our members and long overdue.”
Sitting across from the union at the negotiating table is newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Sherine Reyes, who has laid out an institutional improvement plan focused on lifting outcomes for both patients and hospital staff. The plan, which won approval from KHMH’s board of directors, has been circulated for discussion across every level of the facility, from frontline unit teams to senior directorates.
“We submitted our institutional improvement plan to the board, and it was approved. We’ve been sharing that plan with every member of staff over the past month, and we’re still holding discussions at every level of the organization,” Reyes explained. “Our goal is to make this institution better for the patients of Belize, and for the people who work here every day.”
While the majority of staff have expressed support for Reyes’ vision of systemic improvement, mounting pressure has pushed the union to table bold demands. Across Belize, public sector workers have received two consecutive 4% salary increases in the past year — a benchmark that has amplified calls for long-overdue compensation adjustments at KHMH, where workers currently have no formal pension plan.
Beyond salary adjustments, the union is also pushing for improved allowances and updated working conditions. At the top of their monetary demand is a 20% across-the-board pay raise for all KHMH staff, Briceno confirmed.
“We’re looking at allowances, we’re looking at working conditions, and we’re looking at a pay raise — a 20% raise for all our staff here at KHMH,” Briceno said. “We don’t have a pension, and government has already given public workers two 4% raises, one last year and one this year. That’s why we’re pushing for a 20% compensation increase.”
Reyes, who was widely favored by staff for the CEO role, acknowledges the high expectations placed on her new leadership but says sustainable progress requires balanced decision-making, not unconditional approval of every demand. She notes that credible leadership depends on integrity and hard work, not simply saying yes to secure popularity.
“You mentioned early on that I was the favorite among staff, but you can’t stay popular just by saying yes to everything,” Reyes noted. “People need to see that you’re willing to put in the work, that you lead with integrity. You can’t agree to every request that comes across the table.”
Her priority is striking a balance between upgrading staff benefits and working conditions, while also lifting the quality of care and services for the thousands of Belizeans who rely on KHMH for care each year. She admits the facility has long-standing shortcomings, but says she is committed to addressing gaps alongside staff, integrating public feedback to build a stronger hospital for current and future generations of Belizeans.
“We know we have shortcomings, and we plan to work with our staff to fix them. We’re going to provide the necessary training, we’re going to take public recommendations seriously, and we’re going to build a better institution — not just for us, but for the generations that come after us,” Reyes said.
Right now, both sides have expressed initial goodwill toward the negotiation process, but with a bold 20% pay raise already on the table, the coming weeks of talks will likely define the future of KHMH, its workforce, and the quality of care it delivers to Belize. This report was prepared by Shane Williams for News Five.
