…“reallocation of resources, APNU/AFC style” says PPP
The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration, despite having protested the “enormous” and “unreasonable” salary of previous government officials, is now about to announce massive salary increases for government officials.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan confirmed the assertion that had been swirling of social media to the Guyana Times. He said the matter is currently under consideration by the administration and the increase also extends to Members of Parliament (MPs) and basically all individuals who have a role in the House of Assembly. “The increase in Ministers salary is under consideration. All people that concern the House of Assembly, so that will include Chief Whip, the Opposition, Ministers, and Vice Presidents and so on,” he said.
Guyana Times understands that the increase would see the Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo earning some $1.7M monthly an increase of over $200,000 monthly plus vacation benefits and perks that total more than another $500,000.The three other Vice Presidents – positions not existing under the previous administration – Sydney Alicock, Carl Greenidge, and Khemraj Ramjattan will earn some $1.3M more than double the $579,000 they would have earned as ministers. The vacations and other benefits are also one $500,000.
The fifteen Senior Ministers will earn now earn $1M -an increase of over $400,000 or 74% monthly. The 12 Junior Ministers will each earn $700,000 monthly and like senior Ministers will be entitled to the $500,000 benefits. Therefore all the ministers- all 27 of them will also receive a duty allowance, an entertainment allowance, $45,000, housing allowance; chauffeur allowance of over $100,000 and annual vacation allowance of $420,000.The APNU and AFC, when in Opposition, had vigorously spoken out against the “abuse” of taxpayers’ money to fill the pockets of the “greedy” government officials and Carl Greenidge then shadow finance minister had written a letter in the Stabroek News just before the elections, complaining about the “lifestyle” of PPP/C ministers. He complained, “ PPP ministers have always paid themselves higher salaries than existed prior to their assumption of office…By 2014 the Minister of Finance was receiving $579,951,and today the PPP ministers’ vacation allowance at $420,000 is ten times the minimum wage.”
Meanwhile, contacted on the issue, former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali confirmed that all ministers under the PPP/C received smaller salaries including benefits. . Other Members of Parliament, who were not Ministers and of the Opposition, received a monthly salary of $166, 000 and a $20,000 Committee allowance. At this time, Guyana Times was unable to receive precise numbers for the increase in ordinary MP”/ salaried , excepting that it would be in the range of at least a 100% increase.
Public servants to get increase
Meanwhile, contrary to reports emanating from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Opposition, Jordan said government is sticking to its promise to grant public servants’ salary increases, pension increases and VAT reductions. “I never said public servants salary increases will be put on hold. Public servants will be granted salary increase. It is in the budget, pensioners and public servants, there will be a VAT reduction in some consumer items,” he stated. However, it is unsure whether or not these increases will take effect this year or what will be the rate of increase. During the elections campaign the coalition had promised a 20 percent salary hike for all law enforcement officers and “significant” increase for public servants in the first year. This, the coalition said then was aimed at cracking down on white collar crime. The starting salary of police constables is around $60,000.
However, when it assumed office Finance Minister, Winston Jordan had said that the new government was looking to increase public servants’ salaries by 10% who had also said that the administration also has to work on tempering expectations. Jordan said while it sounds good to have a 10% payout, it makes no sense if you have to spend more and “end up in a deeper hole.” He had said that although the figure is not definitive, he was working with his staff to come up with scenarios and costs for the achievement of the coalition’s 100-day plan. Jordan had said that people had the notion that whenever there is talk of an increase, “you have to find the money from doing something that will cost an increase in maybe inflation but no, it doesn’t have to be that all the way. There is a concept called reallocation of resources.” Former Minister of Tourism Ali, commented, “it is clear that the APNU-AFc government intends to ‘reallocate’ the country’s resources into the pockets of their bloated Ministerial portfolios. Even while stiffing the ordinary wage earners.”
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