Protesters take to the streets to air their displeasure over Government’s super salary increase (iNews Photo)

– Red Thread says “we can no longer trust them”

By Jillica Pinder

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government on Thursday continued to face domestic pressure from key stakeholders for it to withdraw a decision to increase the salaries of its Ministers by more than 50 per cent as several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) hit the streets of Georgetown in protest.

The Organisations picketed the Ministry of the Presidency in an effort to vent their objection to the mega increases that were given to Government Ministers who have only been in office for less than five months. They have since asked the Government to “reel and come and again”.

The protesters congregated in front of the building on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown to voice their distrust of the new Administration, stating that the move to increase salaries did not have the citizens of Guyana in mind.

Betrayed by Government

Social activist Nicole Cole told Guyana Times that she was of the view that Guyanese were betrayed by the new Administration. She recalled clearly that on August 5, 2015, Governance Minister Raphael Trotman held a press conference to announce that the new Administration was not considering salary increases for Ministers, after a rumour of such had emerged.

She noted that weeks after that televised forum, the Minister backpedalled on his word, describing it as unethical and a betrayal. Cole further stated that the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had the temerity to tell the public in arrogance and pomposity that he has no apologies to make.

“This very Government, when in the Opposition decried fat cats, little did the people know that they [the Government] were preparing themselves to be the fattest cats,” the frustrated activist added.

She also stated that the Government’s withdrawal of subsidies from pensioners for $4000 extra was “rubbish” as the subsidies had better assisted Guyana’s elderly.

In expressing further distrust of the David Granger-led Administration, Cole said, “The Minister of State claimed, why must he work for over $500,000 a month? Why must we accept a measly five per cent? That cannot work and we have no apologies in telling you we don’t trust you anymore. It is the Minister of Governance who came on television and lied to us and told us that they were not considering the increase, but then went behind our backs and did it secretly. We cannot trust them… They have broken the trust… Shame on them!”

She also believes that the Government’s policy is of pure self-interest, as it only sought better for itself so soon after being in office.

Pensioners and public servants

Also part of the gathering, head of the NGO Red Thread Guyana, Karen De Souza, stated that Government’s first priority should have been ensuring the public servants and pensioners were well taken care of before the already highly paid ministers.

She added also that the Government’s justification was utter nonsense and as such, unacceptable.

“It is not right that pensioners and public servants have to pay for water bills and electricity bills out of the pittance of the measly income and the Government of Guyana that’s already making so much more than everyone, chooses to double their already high salaries, even though they have the benefit of having an allowance for their utility bills. It is not right and the justifications that have so far been offered are not acceptable,” De Souza stated.

The Red Thread head stated that the undertaking made by the Government in its campaign was to work for a good life for all Guyanese. “All means them and us and it isn’t supposed to start with them, since we are more in need and deserving of it, and since we put them there,” she added. She claimed that the Government should have started where the need was greater, as its move seemed rather selfish.

De Souza stated that as Guyanese, they are refusing to accept the argument that the Government has to “harmonise” with other salaries, as harmonisation can take place at any time. She reiterated that the Government’s responsibility must be to ensure the well-being of the public servants and that is all.

Paid not to steal

Another member, Vidyaratha Kissoon is of the view that the Government’s arrogance in responding to the situation is intolerable.

He shared that the justification of them having to be paid such a high amount to reduce corruption within a Government is also ludicrous and horrifying. He added that while citizens may not always agree with the persons in office, he was sure that the thought had not crossed the minds of Guyanese that the Government would steal from the taxpayers. Kissoon added that such a high increase in such a short space of time is making the Guyanese population uneasy.

“This is basically telling Guyanese, in order for we [Government] not to thief, we have to get more money, which is not right,” Kissoon shared.

He further added that what was also clear was that the Government was not backing down on its decision, as every time a Minister spoke, they reinforced the “crazy position that the salary increases are ok, and that we must hold on for something else”.

The protesters clearly stated that they no longer had any trust in the current Administration, as this was not the change they were hoping for. (jpinder@guyanatimesgy.com)