By the WBWTN News Team | May 15, 2025
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Belmopan, Belize (WBWTN) – Whenever protests break out in Belize, it’s the police who step in first, working to calm the crowd and keep everyone safe. But this week, the silence broke from within. In a bold and rare move, the very officers tasked with upholding the law are now raising their voices for justice not in the streets, but in writing.
In a letter addressed to Commissioner of Police the Belize Police Association laid bare the frustration and hardship felt by officers who say they have been pushed aside in the ongoing national salary debate. Their message cuts straight to the point they’re fed up.
Forgotten Guardians
While government executives are reportedly lined up for salary increases, police officers say they’ve been left out of the conversation completely. This isn’t just a pay issue anymore it’s about whether they can live on what they earn. The association highlighted that their paychecks haven’t seen growth since 2014. And when COVID-19 hit, things only got worse. A 10% drop in pay, coupled with a freeze on all wage increases, left many officers struggling.
Now, in 2025, the cost of living has gone up across the board—fuel, rent, groceries, electricity. But police paychecks haven’t moved. Officers are struggling, and the ones risking their lives daily are barely making ends meet.
It’s no longer just about protests or pay this is about respect.
Unity in the Struggle
This isn’t happening in isolation. Just last week, on May 9th, the Belize National Teachers’ Union and Public Service Union marched through the streets in a powerful demonstration demanding salary increases and the reinstatement of frozen wages. They’ve even issued a 21-day notice for industrial strike action. Now, with the police seemingly in quiet solidarity, the pressure on the government is reaching a boiling point.
If teachers, public workers, and now law enforcement are all calling for change who will the government listen to? Or more importantly, when?
The Bigger Question
Here’s what’s at stake: Will the Government of Belize continue to turn a blind eye, even when those sworn to protect and serve are crying out for help?
It’s a risky game. Undervaluing the security forces not only weakens morale it threatens national stability. These are the people we rely on to respond to danger, to keep the peace, and to defend our country from threats both seen and unseen.
If they are pushed to the edge, what then?
What’s written here isn’t ordinary it’s a serious call for change. The people on the frontlines are feeling left behind, and they’re tired of being silent. If the government continues to ignore them, it won’t just be a pay issue it could become a national crisis.
Belizeans are watching. The world is watching.
And the big question now is: Will the government answer the call or wait until it’s too late?