The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize News.
By George Myvett: The proposal to raise compensation for legally trained officers in the Belize Police Department, well above what the Government of Belize (GOB) PayScale allows, has found political support on the Government side of the House. The public has said little, though it is reasonable to assume that most people would be sympathetic. The case also has a compelling face: Tracy Smith, the Police spokesperson, appears on the evening news almost every weekday as an articulate, focused and capable representative of the Department. As an exemplar of the legally trained officer, and as the primary subject of the proposed raise, she carries real credibility.
Credibility alone, however, will not settle the matter. The question can only be debated constructively if citizens understand the GOB PayScale and the reasoning behind it. This essay argues that a radical upward revision for attorneys within the Police Department requires careful deliberation and study, and that the principle of parity across the Public Service must remain the guide.
How the GOB PayScale Works:
The GOB PayScale ties compensation to academic qualification, experience and performance. The system also builds in the idea of “delayed compensation” for senior ranks. The higher an officer sits on the scale, and the higher the position within a given scale, the more it reflects accumulated qualification, experience and demonstrated performance, not a single credential held at the start of a career.
Police Officers First:
Legally trained officers are Police Officers first and foremost, with specialist training in the legal field. Their employment therefore sits within the Department’s structure. Remuneration in the Public Service also signals seniority, and compensation must stay consistent with the relevant PayScale.
Consider a hypothetical Case:
An officer on PayScale #15 earning $40,000 a year cannot be paid $100,000 simply because she is an attorney, if that figure exceeds the pay of the Commissioner of Police, who sits on PayScale #27 and earns $80,000. The arrangement would make a mockery of the system, since a subordinate would in effect outrank the Head of Department.
Attorneys Are Not Unique to the Police Dept:
Attorneys serve in many parts of the Public Service. They have been an integral part of the staffing of the Ombudsman’s Office, and legal issues arise in the Customs, Fisheries and Immigration Departments, among others. A pay structure created for attorneys in the Police Department would inevitably raise the same claim from attorneys elsewhere, multiplying the fiscal and structural consequences.
Parity Across Disciplines:
Legal training is one of many disciplines needed in the senior ranks of the Public Service. An entry-level attorney typically has four to five years of training, as does a Fisheries Officer, Forest Officer or Quarantine Officer holding an MSc. Where training and qualification are comparable, compensation should be comparable. Parity is the principle that keeps the system fair across professions.
Supply and Demand:
Looked at from a supply-and-demand perspective, Belize has no shortage of attorneys, including within the Public Service. By contrast, more specialized personnel in Fisheries, Forestry, Finance and other fields are harder to find. If market scarcity were the test for premium pay, attorneys would be a weak candidate.
Conclusion:
The performance of officers like Tracy Smith deserves recognition, and the aim of strengthening the Police Force with legal expertise is worthwhile. But an across-the-board increase for police attorneys that sits well above the PayScale would distort seniority, invite similar claims from other departments, and disregard the principle of parity. Before any radical revision, the Government should study the full implications for the PayScale, for other disciplines, and for the public purse. Recognition can be pursued through the established structure of qualification, experience and performance, so that the system stays coherent and fair to all public servants.
The post The Strange Case of Cop vs. Cops in Belize – Why Pay Parity, Not Exceptionalism, Should Guide the Debate appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize News. By George Myvett: The proposal to raise compensation for legally trained officers in the Belize Police Department, well above what the Government of Belize (GOB) PayScale allows, has found political support on the Government side of
The post The Strange Case of Cop vs. Cops in Belize – Why Pay Parity, Not Exceptionalism, Should Guide the Debate appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
