Skip to main content

FM
Former Member

Local Govt Elections likely in December

  • Thursday, 30 July 2015 15:35

 

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan delivering his presentation in the National Assembly on Thursday, July 30, 2015,

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan delivering his presentation in the National Assembly on Thursday, July 30, 2015,

 

by Zena Henry

The long-awaited Local Government Elections are expected to held in December, according to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan.
He made the announcement during his contribution to parliamentary debate on Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2015. The main opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic’s parliamentarians continued their boycott of sittings.
Bulkan said, “The (Guyana Elections) Commission at its next scheduled meeting on 18th August will be expected to make a formal decision to proceed with all the activities for the holding of Local Government Elections.”
The minister said that once such approval is granted, GECOM would be in a position to hold the polls in early December or certainly well before Christmas. Local Government Elections have been last held in 1994.

As the House read and passed the Local Government (Amendment) Bill today, Minister Bulkan addressed earlier claims by the absent Opposition that local polls cannot be held before the first half of 2016. “They have a fear of people being liberated and having control,” the Minister responded. “I am not aware of the realities to which the Article and press release refers… these elections like time, or the tide will wait on no one’ it will not be delayed, it will not be deferred any longer,” he charged.
The Local Government (Amendment) Bill was described as the last piece of legislation to give reform to the existing legislation before citizens’ vote for their local representatives. Bulkan said it has three main features; to include Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) since the existing law pre-dates the establishment of those agencies.
It also caters for the establishment of a Constabulary arm for the NDC and increases fines relevant to specific laws broken. He noted too that it will address drainage of irrigation networks and give the relevant authority power to remove obstructs without delay. “No doubt this will be welcomed by the new to local democratic organs and citizens who suffer from flooding,” he suggested.
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan in his presentation said that this Bill will “Pave the way for the rebirth and renewal of local democracy.” He said that the Constabulary arm of the NDC, “seeks to diffuse lots more power away from a central level and to also give power as regards to constabulary to the body mainly the NDC for the simple reason that they will know… what it is they have to enforce.”
He pointed to the enforcement of laws within the various communities by the NDC’s law enforcement arm, rather than having central police officers deal with items such as an “illegal” blockade on a dam.
The Fiscal Transfers Act, the Municipal and District Councils (Amendment) Act, and the Local Government Commission Act was assent to by former President Donald Ramotar last year, but the Local Government (Amendment) Bill was not. It was seen as removing the power of the ministers and bestowed on the local bodies.
The Local Government Reform Bills addresses the existing legislation which the then opposition insisted is relevant to address burning issues before citizens’ head to local polls. Local Government Elections have not been held in more than two decades.

.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Govt to award VPs and 27 Ministers 100%+ salary increases

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

….while Public Servants may get 10%

…“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.”

FM

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

FM

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

 

Now we are seeing the APNU/AFC as the "greedy government officials"

 

Can Guyana afford such extravagance?

FM

Govt pilloried over ethnic, gender imbalance

Outrage over composition of State Boards

The David Granger-led Administration has been trenchantly criticised for alleged ethnic and gender imbalance in the composition of the recently announced State Boards. The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration has also been criticised for failing to consult adequately with the main Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), breaching an agreement brokered by the late Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte and then President Bharrat Jagdeo back in 2003.

Joseph Harmon

Joseph Harmon

Over the past few days, views have been expressed on the paltry number of women selected on these boards, as well as those appointed to chair them. Additionally, persons have expressed dismay at the ethic imbalance reflected in the new appointees, stating that only a meagre number of Indo-Guyanese were included.  On Wednesday, the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) flayed the APNU/AFC Administration’s actions, deeming it an affront to women, referring to the unbalanced representation of females on the State Boards. “All Government functionaries responsible should feel ashamed over today’s announcement that only three (9.4 per cent) of the new Chairs of the 32 State Boards in the Finance Sector are females,” the organisation said in a release. According to the GHRA, while the full membership of only 20 out of the 32 boards were disclosed so far, only 18 per cent are females, that is, 22 persons out of a possible 125 as it relates to Boards in the Finance Sector with only one woman named a member on three boards and another woman on two boards.

Turning to the agriculture sector, the GHRA pointed out that out of the 13 new members gazetted on the Guyana Rice Development Board, only one female is named. The organisation also underscored the fact the only three females were named as chairs of the various revamped State Boards. “That the appointments could be released without any attempt to explain or excuse this affront to women, suggests that gender parity had not been a consideration… Whether this insult to women is a one-off thoughtless act or more institutionally determined… is a matter for continuous monitoring,” the GHRA remarked.

Also commenting on the issue of gender imbalance, Chairperson of the Guyana’s Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC) Indra Chandarpal, posited that women should not only be included in politics but in all decision-making aspect of society. She noted that there should be a one-third representation of females on all the boards.  Furthermore, Chandarpal urged all sectors to channel their thinking in this direction. “I want the Private Sector, trade unions and other parties that have to appoint additional members to these boards, to consider the fact that the Constitution Reform Process provides for women’s involvement (in all sectors),” the WGEC head stated.

Contacted on Thursday for a comment on these concerns raised, Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally, said she is not aware of these issues and has not had a chance to examine the list of the gazetted members, which Cabinet, of which she is a member, had approved. “I don’t know… I can’t really comment because I didn’t go through (the list) with a fine tooth comb,” Ally, who is Government’s point person on racial harmony told this newspaper.

Racial discrimination Meanwhile, on the issue of ethnic imbalance, Businessman and Civil Society Activist Clairmont Lye who in 2007 had returned his National Award owing to what he declared then was “the deterioration of democracy in Guyana” in a letter in another section of the media stated that he was expecting persons to be selected based “purely” on their qualifications and not ethnicity, however he was disappointed. Lye, a former Cacique Crown of Honour awardee and one of the founders of the Electoral Assistance Bureau said: “I was full of expectation that this new Government would have been the first to establish this new political culture. However, I couldn’t help noticing that 80 per cent of the recently announced 35 chairmanship positions to State Boards have been filled by non-Indo-Guyanese,” he stated.

According to Lye, these State Board appointments were preceded by the recent list of national awardees, which causes one to revisit the promise of “inclusivity and promotion of racial unity”. He pointed out that while the Government may not have deliberately set out on such a divisive course, the situation only serves to lend credence to the PPP/C’s pre-election warning of race politics by APNU/AFC.  “Our Government ought to realise that in politics, perception is reality. And whether supporters or not, we need to keep them mindful of that,” he noted.

In addition, another letter writer, Gordon Forte, outlined that of the 35 persons announced as chairs of state-appointed boards, only seven have “Indian-sounding” names. “I find it intensely painful that in my country ? indeed in my world ? qualifications of personal worth and potential contribution have to include racial division, and that responsible people would actually make a count like that,” he declared.

Forte stated that the country’s recent history forces Guyanese to use concepts like inclusiveness and racial unity. He explained “Perceived discrimination on grounds of race seems more offensive to Guyanese than that on grounds of gender, ability or performance record. So I am dragged into a nasty arena, to say to the Cabinet (though we know they’re not listening), “Ow, man, look bad… look so bad…” Moreover, the man said that while many rational arguments can be put forward for the choices made, even idealists have to face up to the degrading nature of the local political environment. He reminded of the power of “filthy racialism” and the long road Guyanese have taken towards its elimination.

Former President and Executive Member of the PPP Donald Ramotar, on Wednesday said that there was no consultation between the present Administration and his Party as it relates to the composition of the various recently announced State Boards. Ramotar, in a telephone interview with Guyana Times acknowledged that the Government has said that it would offer a few seats on specific boards to the PPP. However, the Opposition party is far from satisfied with such actions by the APNU/AFC Government. “When I was the President, we had offered them seats on more Boards in comparison to what they are offering us. There were no consultations this time about the seats being offered to us. We had given them a lot of membership and it is not being reciprocated,” stated Ramotar.

He said that because of the lack of consultation and also the limit to the Boards in which the PPP/C was being given membership, there would be need for talks with the Government. According to Ramotar, he expects this issue to be discussed soon, and it is unclear as to whether the PPP/C will accept the seats that are presently offered to them before the discussions with the Administration take place.

FM

RPA outraged at absence of “nominees” from State Boards

July 31, 2015 2:42 pm Category: latest news A+ / A-

 

 

By Jomo Paul

RPA President Laekah Rambrich [center) flanked by other RPA Members. [iNews' Photo]

RPA President Laekah Rambrich (center) flanked by other RPA Members. [iNews’ Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Guyana’s Rice Producers Association (RPA) is outraged at the a decision taken by the APNU+AFC government to exclude its nominees from being Directors on the Boards for the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

 

Guyana’s laws stipulate that the two Boards will consist of members from the RPA given the nexus to the rice sector. It states that the GRDB shall consist of three members from the RPA and the NDIA would have two representatives from the Body.

However, according to RPA President, Laekah Rambrich, the Body submitted names to Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder but was surprised the nominees were not selected.

“The RPA was shocked when the names of the Directors of the GRDB and the NDIA were made public and not a single member nominee put forward by the association was included on any of the two boards,” said Rambrich.

According to Rambrich, the move collides with Guyana’s laws and essentially leaves rice producers out in the cold from critical participation.

He said “what is most troubling is that this decision is clearly a deliberate attempt to marginalize and discriminate against the hundreds of rice farmers who are members of the RPA.”

Rambrich says that policy makers should see the reversal of this decision or at the very least, some alterations. A thorough perusal of the Directors of the Boards revealed that there were three representatives from the rice industry on the GRDB Board.

Those three include Rambrich, Jinnah Rahaman and Naith Ram. Both Rahaman and Ram are representatives of two different associations representing the interests of those in the rice sector.

However, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority Board was bereft of any representatives from the rice industry.

FM

“I cannot pay you to do nothing” – Harmon justifies sacking of OLPF employees

July 25, 2015 6:09 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Jomo Paul

Minister Harmon addresses the PNCR Meeting. [iNews' Photo]

Minister Harmon addresses the PNCR Meeting. [iNews’ Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com]
 
Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Friday evening sought to justify a move by the APNU+AFC government to dismiss over 40 employees from the One Laptop Per Family Program (OLPF) that was implemented under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration.

 

Media reports indicate that the employees were sent packing by Harmon after a needs assessment was undertaken. According to the Minister of State, it was not wise to have so many persons employed in the project when there no work for them to do.

“I can’t keep all of you because next time around when Jagdeo and them come into the Parliament, they gon question me…what are you doing with 72 persons here…so I had to make the situation right early…I said to many of them, it was nice having you here…there is no work for you to do and I cannot pay you the people’s money to do nothing…so it might be better if you find alternative employment where you can be better utilized,” Harmon told a gathering outside the Stabroek Market square during a People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) public meeting on Friday, July 24.

The Minister had recently visited the OLPF office where he indicated that a charade was put on for him to believe that persons were actually doing work when it was quite the opposite.

“When I went there everybody busy…somebody take out a file and say they working on a file. I asked what year on the file… she said 2013 and then I asked what year it is, she said 2015…it was a poppy show they put on for me.”

He pointed out too that during his visit, some startling discoveries were made, such as a full floor of laptops that could not be used because they were not functioning as a result of one wrong or another.

“When I went to the bottom floor of the building a whole lot of computers….they can’t use…The bulk of those laptop computers were useless and while some of them came as a gift, the bulk of them were paid for by your money.”

FM

Burglars hit MMZ house; Leonora Police took hours to respond

July 26, 2015 7:22 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Fareeza Haniff

Part of the ransacked house.

Part of the ransacked house.

[www.inewsguyana.com] – A Meten – Meer – Zorg (MMZ), West Coast Demerara family is now counting their losses after burglars broke into their house and carted off with approximately $2M in cash and other valuables on Saturday night, July 25.

The family was not at home at the time of the incident but upon their return to the Lot 7 Kastev, Meten Meer Zorg house, Geeta Nadiram noticed that the locks to her door were broken; as a matter of fact she believes that the burglars were still in the house when she and her Canadian based daughter returned home around midnight.

Nadiram told iNews that the burglars even locked her out of her own house by activating the lower bolt on the front door. With the help of neighbours, they managed to force opened the door with a crow bar.ransacked 2

Nadiram and her daughter, who is visiting Guyana for a family event, were greeted with a ransacked home; the perpetrators managed to cart of with approximately $600,000 including Canadian currency, four iPads and jewellery.

But what was even more shocking to the family is the fact that the Leonora Police Station, when contacted, revealed to the victims that there was no vehicle to transport officers to the crime scene.

 

One of the ransacked bedrooms.

One of the ransacked bedrooms.

The family then decided to send a vehicle for the policemen but upon arrival at the station, there were no ranks available; they were told that the Inspector [name provided] went home to sleep and that the patrol was on the road dealing with other issues.

It should be noted that the Leonora Police Station is located approximately 10 minutes from Meten – Meer – Zorg but the police arrived at the scene three and a half hours after being contacted.

FM

bribe

Traffic Chief says… Do not pay the police a bribe under any circumstance

 

FOLLOWING receipt of many complaints by motorists concerning daily police harassment, Traffic Chief Ian Amsterdam has advised members of the public not to give the police any money.He said that, regardless of the matter, they should go to court for traffic infractions instead of fuelling corruption by giving traffic cops money as an inducement.

The senior officer voiced his conviction that some people need to stop paying the police, especially in traffic-related matters, proceed to the court and ask the Magistrate to be lenient with them.

Amsterdam said, “Don’t give them (traffic cops) anything, because they cannot put you in the lockups for that, and incidents where motorists feel they were intimidated, there are many avenues (to address that problem): they can file a report in all the divisions, rather than coming to the city.”

He disclosed that if a ticket has been issued, the driver should pay the fine, but the driver should not pay the police; at no time should that be encouraged. He said reports can be entertained at the Police Office of Professional Responsibilities (OPR) at Force Headquarters, Eve Leary, as well as at the Police Complaints Authority or at any police station where there is an officer to take citizens’ complaints of misconduct by ranks.

The Senior Superintendent told this publication that OPR is especially there to deal expeditiously with such reports of misconduct, and he said if the rank is found culpable he/she can be charged or disciplined departmentally.

He explained that when people pay the police and it is reported, depending on the case, both parties can be charged, or the case may be dismissed in the court in regard to matters of traffic.

Amsterdam added that once rogue cops are caught, they would face the full force of the law, since the hierarchy of the Force has been cautioning them ever so often. He said, however, that he has been told that rogue cops have adopted new ways of soliciting money and other incentives form citizens by asking for a ‘raise’, or a ‘start’, or by plain begging of some sort for money, food, beverage etc.

He said, “If they (traffic ranks) do not want to hear (the cautions from the GPF), they will feel”.

From time to time, there have been reports of misconduct and corruption by traffic ranks. Some people feel they are being harassed unnecessarily and intimidated into giving them money. The Traffic Chief, in response, has said that at the end of the day, the ranks have to do their job; but it is up to them to be professional and conduct themselves in a proper manner, desisting from accepting bribes.

He said the question of morale and integrity comes into play since some ranks are bent on their ways of taking people’s money to turn a blind eye to traffic violations.

By Michel Outridge

FM

The PPP must prepare its return to office

Dear Editor, I have no doubt that if there was a redo of the general election right now, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would win and with such a large majority that no amount of skullduggery could overturn the victory. Every rice farmer and sugar worker, every sex worker who saw “I is Broomes” at work, every parent of a school-aged child, and every Indian and Amerindian Guyanese who are seeing the ethnic cleansing of the civil service would vote right now for a return of the PPP. It is not even a 100 days yet and we have already learnt our lesson, and a bitter lesson it is. Even with its warts and all, the PPP would be better than the current ineptitude and insensitivity that the Granger Administration is displaying. There is not even a twinge of embarrassment or discomfort when talking about a return to rice flour? It is not even rice flour per se but all that it represents. It is a symbol of everything that had to be endured and suffered during the long People’s National Congress (PNC) dictatorship. The PPP must rebuild and regain the moral high ground and get itself ready to return to office. Its landslide victory at the next election will be so large and clear that no amount of fraud would be enough to overturn the win. To regain its moral authority, the party needs to take some tough decisions like shedding itself of its liabilities. Mr Anil Nandlall, Dr Bheri Ramsaran and Ms Jennifer Westford have to go. They cannot be Parliamentarians. The PPP must understand all that is at stake for the country’s future and show that it has the integrity and toughness to do the right thing. It cannot be business as usual.

Sincerely, Shanie Jagessar

FM
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by asj:

your not-so-opaque campaign for return of the gangster cabal riding the race divide is noted

Redux ......Asj is free to state his view.

 

Anyone can Say.....

AFC-APNU will lose local Govt Elections.....

 

I hear the local govt (LG) elections

is a Hot topic in the Local Rum Shop up to 2 AM....

Former Advisor to the President.....Kellawan Lall

think Banks DIH & DDL should rebrand their Cheap Rum

to "De LG SPECIAL".... so the PPP boys could forget

their licks and keep focused on "De LG SPECIAL"

 

First..... I do not think anyone in their right senses can tell us PPP will win the Local Govt Elections.....

or at least not The PPP with Jagdeo, Jenny & Brrri Berri.

 

So let us hear

which party will defeat the AFC- APNU now...

 

 

 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by Jalil:
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by asj:

your not-so-opaque campaign for return of the gangster cabal riding the race divide is noted

Redux ...... Asj is free to state his view.

 

Anyone can Say.....

AFC-APNU will lose local Govt Elections.....

first, please show me where i even imply that ASJ is not "free to state his view"

 

but wait, wait . . . apparently, MY criticism of his D-G'esque spamming of the BB with GuyanaTimes race campaign material is now an abridgement of ASJ's free speech rights?

 

huh?

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Redux....Kellawan has another Brilliant Idea ...

He claim since them PPP Boys and Girls only in the news everyday for the wrong reason.

 

Banks DIH & DDL should put dem picture on " De LG SPECIAL" Rum Bottle...

 

 

 

Kellowan claim..... the PPP need to do something to get back all them Sagiwang who now have to stop drinking at 2 AM.

 

FM
Originally Posted by Jalil:

Redux....Kellawan has another Brilliant Idea ...

He claim since them PPP Boys and Girls only in the news everyday for the wrong reason.

 

Banks DIH & DDL should put dem picture on " De LG SPECIAL" Rum Bottle...

 

Kellowan claim..... the PPP need to do something to get back all them Sagiwang who now have to stop drinking at 2 AM.

 

bai, lang now i missing de killaman

 

but bheri best stepping up nicely

 

FM

I believe Kellawan idea of the Pictures on "De LG SPECIAL" became a heated debate at de rum shop .......at 2AM no decision was made.....PPP Parliament Debate continues today.

FM
Originally Posted by asj:

Govt to award VPs and 27 Ministers 100%+ salary increases

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

….while Public Servants may get 10%

…“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.”

OLD PNC is back in full swing.

FM
Originally Posted by yuji22:
Originally Posted by asj:

Govt to award VPs and 27 Ministers 100%+ salary increases

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

Government mulls salary hike for Cabinet Members

….while Public Servants may get 10%

…“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.”

OLD PNC is back in full swing.

Aw me mama! Guyana gaan fuh channa. Dem coolie ah cry blood now. Prepare fuh jain food line again! Where is Warria and the non resident Guyanese buckman?

FM

IS RAMJHATTAN WARMING UP HIS SEAT IN PARLIAMENT? SEEMS LIKE HE IS ONLY A FIGUREHEAD IN THE APNU/AFC COALITION

 

HE USED TO CUSS ROHEE MORNING NOON AND NIGHT, AND NOW HE IS LIKE A PHUTUK IN DOING THE SAME JOB

FM

Granny found murdered in house

August 1, 2015 2:31 pm Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Leroy Smith

The house in which the woman's body was found.

The house in which the woman’s body was found.

[www.inewsguyana.com]- Seventy –six –year – old Carmine Ganesh of Mont Rose, East Coast Demerara was found dead in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor on Saturday, August 01 in what appeared to be a robbery/ murder.

The woman’s body was discovered with a cloth tied around her neck and a gaping wound to the back of the head. iNews understands that the mother of six lived alone but had several security cameras monitoring the activities of the premises, which she has been taking care of over the years for friends of the family.

iNews was told that the woman was last seen on Friday, July 31 after she completed her daily chores, which included cleaning the yard; however she was not spotted this morning, prompting neighbours to inform her relatives.

When relatives showed up at the house and called for the woman, they got no response, forcing a family member to scale the fence when the gruesome discovery was made.

Police are now reviewing the footage from the security cameras in an effort to capture the perpetrator (s).

FM

Almost every day some Indo Guyanese is being murdered, yet this Namakharaam himself a Home Affairs Minister seems impotent to do anything,

Ram give up the job if you cannot function.

FM
Originally Posted by asj:

Almost every day some Indo Guyanese is being murdered, yet this Namakharaam himself a Home Affairs Minister seems impotent to do anything,

Ram give up the job if you cannot function.

if you were serious in your concern, you would be calling for Seelall Persaud's head

 

but u have both feet in this invidious race campaign by the PPP that is all about dividing the people along ethnic lines, so ("impotent") Ramjattan as "Namakharaam" is your target in the mortification strategy ginned up in the bowels of the tiefman Sanata complex

 

u choose your words well ASJ . . . it is important for us all to pay attention

 

as you soldier on without shame  . . . making sure that your posts are all about "Indian" victim to the exclusion of everyone else

 

uh huh

FM
Last edited by Former Member

The final straw that broke the backs of poor, helpless, and salary starved Guyanese that can be considered as slave wages:

 

PPP appalled at pending salary increase for Gov’t Ministers, others

August 2, 2015 6:03 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee

General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it is appalled that the David Granger led administration is actively considering pay increases, for its Ministers, Vice Presidents, advisors and Parliamentarians.

iNews had reported that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan confirmed that the salaries for Government Ministers, Presidential Advisors and Members of Parliament maybe increased pending the outcome of considerations.

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;” however the Finance Minister did not state what amount the increases would be since according to him, it is being considered.

But the PPP in a statement resisted this move by the new government.

“The PPP condemns this act of excessive generosity to the satraps of the Granger Administration. As is establishing a bloated is not enough, the Granger Administration is now planning to rub salt in the wounds of Guyanese, by “ fixing up the boys and girls” with big pay increases.”

According to the PPP, “This is same administration which had claimed there is no money in the treasury to continue the School Uniform Voucher Programme and to give public servants a promised 20% pay increase. Moreover, the APNU+AFC, while in opposition, had accused the PPP/Civic government of excessive spending. Clearly, the Granger Administration is more concerned with living extravagant lifestyles and earning big bucks, while the population suffers, it is meat for the boys and bones for the rest of the nation.”

FM
Originally Posted by asj:

The final straw that broke the backs of poor, helpless, and salary starved Guyanese that can be considered as slave wages:

 

PPP appalled at pending salary increase for Gov’t Ministers, others

August 2, 2015 6:03 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee

General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it is appalled that the David Granger led administration is actively considering pay increases, for its Ministers, Vice Presidents, advisors and Parliamentarians.

iNews had reported that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan confirmed that the salaries for Government Ministers, Presidential Advisors and Members of Parliament maybe increased pending the outcome of considerations.

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;” however the Finance Minister did not state what amount the increases would be since according to him, it is being considered.

But the PPP in a statement resisted this move by the new government.

“The PPP condemns this act of excessive generosity to the satraps of the Granger Administration. As is establishing a bloated is not enough, the Granger Administration is now planning to rub salt in the wounds of Guyanese, by “ fixing up the boys and girls” with big pay increases.”

According to the PPP, “This is same administration which had claimed there is no money in the treasury to continue the School Uniform Voucher Programme and to give public servants a promised 20% pay increase. Moreover, the APNU+AFC, while in opposition, had accused the PPP/Civic government of excessive spending. Clearly, the Granger Administration is more concerned with living extravagant lifestyles and earning big bucks, while the population suffers, it is meat for the boys and bones for the rest of the nation.”

ASJ, why are you pushing this blantant lie?

FM

Bai KB, we do not know that it is a lie, I am just the messenger, plying the trade with many messages.

 

If the Government does not provide information, then it leaves others to speculate, and then

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;” however the Finance Minister did not state what amount the increases would be since according to him, it is being considered.

FM
Originally Posted by asj:

 

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;”

And this would have been the perfect time for Jordan, Granger, or Nagamootoo to rubbish the claims being made by the PPP, but they said nothing to dispute the "facts" being spread.

 

Saying nothing gives the PPP freedom to seize control of the issue.  IT also makes them look like being caught with their dirty hands in the cookie jar, and not knowing what to say.

FM

They probably figure people aren't dumb enough to read and go with any trash being reported by those crappy newsrags.

That's akin to reading one of Cobra's threads and agreeing with him.

cain
Last edited by cain

The PPP spend the past few years installing IMCs all over the country and not one of you folks who are their supporters and now find fault with Granger ever uttered a squeak. Local elections cannot be held using the prevailing schemes. we need to reconstitute these offices and the districts to represent who we are our the same yapping about indians vs blacks in office squatting on positions depending who will will be be the cacophony in the air.

FM

President says salary increases are meant to “differentiate” levels

August 3, 2015 6:00 am Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Jomo Paul

President of Guyana, David Granger

President of Guyana, David Granger

[www.inewsguyana.com] – With scathing criticisms coming in from the political opposition and sections of society about considerations being made for salary increases to Presidential Advisors, Ministers and Members of Parliament; President David Granger has provided some clarity on the issue.

He told iNews during a very brief comment on Sunday August 02 that the considerations being made to the salary increases are meant to establish a pay grade.

The President explained that this will “differentiate” between Presidential Advisors, Ministers, Junior Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other persons who will be affected.

The President would not speak further on the issue. iNews had reported that Finance Minister, Winston Jordan confirmed that the salaries may be increased pending the outcome of considerations.

Jordan told iNews on August 01, that the salaries for these officials were “under active consideration;” however the Finance Minister did not state what amount the increases would be since according to him, it is being considered.

But the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in a statement resisted this move by the new government insisting it was nothing more than “meat for the boys and bones,” for Guyana.

“This is same administration which had claimed there is no money in the treasury to continue the School Uniform Voucher Programme and to give public servants a promised 20% pay increase. Moreover, the APNU+AFC, while in opposition, had accused the PPP/Civic government of excessive spending. Clearly, the Granger Administration is more concerned with living extravagant lifestyles and earning big bucks, while the population suffers, it is meat for the boys and bones for the rest of the nation.”

FM
Originally Posted by asj:

Local Govt Elections likely in December

  • Thursday, 30 July 2015 15:35

 

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan delivering his presentation in the National Assembly on Thursday, July 30, 2015,

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan delivering his presentation in the National Assembly on Thursday, July 30, 2015,

 

.

SO what?  How does that change the price of cheese in Guyana?

FM

I don't believe that the Indians will not turn out to vote as Local district elections are not their cup of tea.  Before 1964 the villages were well developed and control by afros.  The Indians controlled the economy.  I enjoyed living in the village then.  We had no problems until those two Jackasses went into politics.

R

Shot, hacked, burnt, beheaded, strangled…20 women murdered in six months

August 3, 2015 | By | Filed Under News 
 

…as homicides reach 94  

 

Shot, hacked, beheaded, burnt, strangled. That’s been the fate of 20 women within the past seven months, according to recently-compiled murder statistics by Kaieteur News. The figures also show that least 94 people have been murdered between January, 2015 and the first day of August, with six being slain last week. Most of the slain women were victims of “crimes of passion.” But 77-year-old Carmen Ganesh, slain last Saturday, appears to be the victim of a brutal and puzzling home invasion. She was clubbed with a large spanner, kicked, stomped and strangled by a young man, who had concealed himself in the woman’s Montrose, East Coast Demerara home. Afterwards, the young killer casually left the scene with his victim’s pension and a few pieces of jewellery. She is the third elderly woman, who lived alone, to be murdered this year. The others are 67-year-old Ramdai Mohabir, called ‘Aunty Elsie’, who was raped and strangled on February 9 in her Lot 665 Topo, Albion, Corentyne, Berbice, and Suroogpattie Ramlakan, 73, called Auntie Carmen, of Richmond Village, Essequibo. She was found lying on the floor of her two-bedroom home. Her night dress was pulled above her knees and her neck bore lacerations. A post mortem revealed that she was struck on the head and strangled. But the postmortem also showed that Ramlakan’s killer had inflicted injuries on the pensioner to apparently trick investigators into believing that she was raped. Their killers remain at large. A fiery domestic dispute was behind the murder last Tuesday, of Ormowatie Chammawattie, 74, and her 54-year-old daughter, Caustury Chammawattie-Persaud.

Janice Paul

Janice Paul

Ormowatie Chammawattie

Ormowatie Chammawattie

Caustury Chammawattie-Persaud

Caustury Chammawattie-Persaud

Carmen Ganesh

Carmen Ganesh

They were burnt to death in their Huis’t Diren, Essequibo Coast home after a man, identified as Sarwan Darshan, threw a lighted stove at them. Darshan, the elder woman’s son-in-law, has been charged with murder. On June 3, the badly chopped corpse of Parbatie Vijrauren, 37,  along with the body of her lover, Ramdat Persaud, 56, was found Tain Village, Corentyne. Police subsequently arrested and charged Vijrauren’s husband, 26-year-old Ian Boodhoo, with the double murder. Also the victim of an angry man was Miranda Shako, who was chopped with an axe during an argument with her common-law husband at Yarrowkabra, off the Soesdyke/Linden highway. Then there was shopkeeper Janice Paul. On a rainy night in mid July, Mrs. Paul and her husband, Eusi Paul, were heading to their D Field, Turkeyen home when a cutlass-wielding man, identified as Jerry Dalrymple, chopped Mrs. Paul to death and wounded her husband.

Alicia Ali

Alicia Ali

Parbattie Vijrauren

Parbattie Vijrauren

Donessa Barker

Donessa Barker

Police appear to still baffled by the ‘seawall murders’ of two women, which occurred earlier this year. In early June, the nude body of 14-year-old Campbellville Secondary School student Alicia Ali was found on the seawall at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. She was reportedly last seen alive by her mother, Maylene Williams, when she left her home to go to a nearby shop. Police had initially suspected that Alicia had taken her own life, after finding what appeared to be a suicide note in her bedroom. But a pathologist who conducted a postmortem on the teen’s remains yesterday gave the cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning, compounded by compression injury to the neck and blunt trauma to the head. The pathologist found no evidence of sexual assault. Then on April 11, the decomposing body of Devkumarie Ramadhar, 17, of Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, was found on the foreshore at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara. She had been reported missing on April 04, 2015. Last week’s six murder victims include miner Morvin James, 40, who was stabbed to death on July 27 at Baramita, North West District, during an argument with another man; Rasharda Dusrah, 29,  who was found in an abandoned mining pit at Oku Backdam, Puruni last Tuesday, with a gaping wound to his neck. There was also Pooran Saroop, 57, found dead under a house at Berbice with a chop wound to the head, and seaman Davonan Sookram, 37, was body was found with two gunshot wounds to his head on Friday, at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Ministers’ salary increase

August 3, 2015 | By | Filed Under Letters 
 

Dear Editor, If what I read in the news is true that the VP’s and Ministers are going to receive hefty pay increase, then I am truly disappointed with the new APNU + AFC government. I thought their priority would have been to fulfill the 100 day promise they made to the Guyanese people. As I understand it, many of those promises have not been kept and they are now making sure they receive “fat cat” salaries and feathering their own nests. People had a lot of hope on David and Moses to run a lean and clean government, to bring more money to the people instead of more money to themselves. In this very first budget, they are stacking up their own coffers instead of stacking the meagre salaries of police, public servants, nurses etc, etc. Are these people going to get the crumbs that fall from the masters’ table? There is no money to give parents $10,000 for their school kids, yet there is money to give VP’s and Ministers! Where is the change that Guyanese expected and voted for? Seems like all politicians are the same, make the world of promises to get a vote and then it is the “good life” for themselves. Unless this government delivers to the people what was promised, I see them in the Opposition in 2020. Ameer Bacchus

FM
Originally Posted by Ramakant-P:

I don't believe that the Indians will not turn out to vote as Local district elections are not their cup of tea.  Before 1964 the villages were well developed and control by afros.  The Indians controlled the economy.  I enjoyed living in the village then.  We had no problems until those two Jackasses went into politics.

BJ an Ramtar?

cain
Last edited by cain

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×