If Ministerial increases meant to prevent bribery, do same for disciplined services – Trade Unionist
The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is stating that if the current administration’s justification for increasing cabinet salaries months after being elected was to prevent corruption, then similar steps must be taken for the disciplined services, to help prevent bribes.
(Inset) GTUC General Secretary, Lincoln Lewis. Police ranks in some instances put their lives on the line.
This was the assertion of GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis, on Labour Day, and was a direct reference to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and other disciplined services. At present a local police constable earns slightly more than $50,000 per month.
Pointing out that there are constant accusations of unethical conduct being leveled against members of the police force, Lewis emphasised that the root cause of poor wages is still to be addressed.
“Yes, there are rogue officers who should be dealt with. But I can say without fear of contradiction that officers are underpaid and work under dangerous and hazardous conditions. Poor remuneration has contributed to officers taking a top-up from the public.
“The politicians paid themselves astronomical increases under the pretext that this will minimize corruption on their part (and) to prevent bribes” Lewis said. “So too must our men and women in uniform be paid.”
Lewis also noted that issues such as debunching of salaries and duty free benefits needed to be addressed. In this vein, he was harshly critical of the Government for not engaging the unions in collective bargaining.
In defence of his Government, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo had stated that 2016 would see the Government engaging the unions and increases being paid, after the submission of the Public Service Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report.
Back in September 2015, the country learned of the salary increases in a gazetted report, which had listed that the Prime Minister’s salary per annum would be $20,580,000 and the Vice-Presidents’ salaries as $11,135,064. Cabinet Ministers’ salaries were listed as $10,439,124 per annum, while the Junior Ministers were listed as receiving $8,346,492 per annum.
Groups such as Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporated (TIGI) had stated that the increases were made as though the administration had hoped that it would go unnoticed. The then TIGI head, Calvin Bernard, had described the salary for the public sector as “shameful” and likely to drive some to corruption.
Following the 2015 budget being tabled, the basic minimum wage was increased from $39,540 to $50,000 effective July 1. In addition, all other public servants received a five percent increase and $5,000 monthly.
When Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, was confronted on the issue and the justification behind the increases, he had made it clear that there could not be a situation such as in the past, when a Minister was prepared to accept a “lowly” salary, but engage in corrupt activities.
He had stated that this Government would not be corrupt and would moreover sign a code of conduct, requiring them to act at a different level. Harmon had also reflected that what was once paid to Ministers was what he paid his attorneys and that Ministers would have to be paid well “if we want them to perform.”