By Belize Live News Staff: The Ministry of National Defence and Border Security has issued an official clarification denying claims that Belize Defence Force (BDF) members will face salary cuts. The Ministry responded to concerns following a June 16, 2025 memorandum from the Ministry of Finance, which they explained was misinterpreted by some. The memo, they said, simply authorizes an administrative correction to ensure that all BDF salaries, increments, and promotions properly reflect the 2019 government-approved pay scales.
According to the Ministry, no BDF soldier will see a reduction in pay, and the corrections being implemented are intended only to address payroll discrepancies caused by past errors. The Ministry stated clearly that not all members of the BDF were affected by these discrepancies, and those who were will not be asked to repay any overpayments received due to miscalculations.
Additionally, while the Ministry acknowledged that no retroactive payments will be made to adjust for the erroneous pay scale placements in previous years, they reaffirmed that this measure is strictly to promote fairness, accuracy, and transparency in salary administration. To further support BDF personnel, the Ministry announced that two new allowances—the Jungle and Maritime Allowance and the Bush Allowance—were approved and will be paid retroactively starting with the July 2025 pay cycle. These allowances were implemented as of May 1, 2024, and will provide additional financial support to eligible members.
The Ministry of National Defence says it remains committed to ensuring that BDF members are compensated fairly and that salary policies are managed responsibly.
