Ministers’ super salary increases

…Govt has not demonstrated commitment, sacrifice – GAWU President

Many persons in various fields of employment are displeased with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government’s decision to award its Ministers mega salary increases while hardworking public servants recently received a measly five per cent increase from the Administration. As such, outrage has been sparked among those in the public sector as well as the ordinary man on the street as the APNU/AFC continues to come under fire for such a decision.

GAWU President Komal Chand

That act of the Government is now being noted as one which depicts the Administration failing to demonstrate commitment and sacrifice.

This is according to Guyana  Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand who told Guyana Times on Tuesday that as a result of the massive increases gifted to the Ministers, there was general resentment among the populace.

One major objection that a number of persons have been raising is that the newly-appointed Government officials have only been in office for a mere four months and have not yet established themselves in their new portfolios.

“I mean, even if they had established that they are able and capable, one cannot justify them having this huge hike in pay than the other workers which you have merely granted a five per cent increase. And for the first time in over two decades you have it retroactive to September 1 and … always the increases have been retroactive to January 1 … so you have this massive increase, very disproportionate and there is no justification,” the GAWU President noted.

He explained that the APNU/AFC coalition has now created a very bad image of itself and the justification given for the huge salaries was unacceptable to many.

“You said that well, you don’t want them to steal…that means that they are capable of stealing and that is why you did this. And secondly, you are not increasing the public servants’ pay similarly, so you are saying from using that same logic, well then they will steal and you will have to understand and accept that …Having not given the workers any increase then you accept that they could steal,” Chand emphasised.

During the past few weeks, several independent commentators have added their assessment that the raise was way too “excessive”, given the fact that public servants were given a miniscule five per cent increase. They have stated that in addition to earning high salaries, the Ministers also get a host of other benefits that would rack up to over $1 million per month each including a duty-free waiver for vehicles, electricity subventions, insurance and travel allowances.

Guyana Times was earlier told that when all of these benefits were added to the salaries, the monies being granted to the Government officials were “way too much” and presently there were too many Government Ministers.

The major concern in this regard would be if the country would be able to afford making these payments of huge increases to so many Ministers.

Many persons opined that it was too early for any person to get such increases, since before any increase can  be given a certain amount of time needed to pass and then an evaluation should be undertaken.

This newspaper was further told that such an evaluation should be conducted by an independent Committee and not by the Cabinet itself.

The Official Gazette, published on September 25, 2015, stated that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo would be benefiting from a whopping $20,580,000 per annum, while the other Vice Presidents would each receive $11,135,064.

Under the APNU/AFC Government, a Cabinet Minister will be given a hefty sum of $10,439,124 – annually – more than $300,000 over previous Ministers. and a Junior Minister or a Minister within a Ministry will be paid $8,346,492 per annum.

The Attorney General will receive the same amount of money that the Chancellor does and the Speaker of the National Assembly is slated to benefit from $10, 439,124 every year (the same salary which a Cabinet Minister will be paid).

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition will be given $10,439, 124 on an annual basis, but former President Bharrat Jagdeo has said he will not be accepting this salary.

In addition to the increased salary for Prime Minister Nagamootoo of $1.7 million monthly, an increase of over $200,000 each month, he will be drawing   vacation benefits and perks totalling more than an additional $500,000.

Guyana Times understands that the Deputy Speaker is to get $2, 702,880 per annum, while the Chief Whip will be paid $2, 682,360 annually.

Additionally, every other member of the National Assembly is to be paid $2, 402,532 each year. Guyana Times further understands that the three other Vice Presidents – positions which did not exist under the PPP/C Administration – Sydney Allicock, Carl Greenidge, and Khemraj Ramjattan will earn some $1.13 million, double the $579,000 which they would  have earned as Ministers. In addition, the vacations and other benefits are also $500,000.

The Cabinet Ministers, who are the 15 senior Ministers in Government, will now benefit from $1 million – an increase of over $400,000 or 74 per cent each month.

It must be noted that the 12 Ministers within the Ministries (Junior Ministers) will each earn $700,000 monthly and like their senior Ministers will be entitled to the $500,000 in benefits.

In addition to their huge salaries, all 27 Ministers will each be receiving a duty allowance, an entertainment allowance, $45,000 housing allowance, chauffeur allowance of over $100,000 and annual vacation allowance of $420,000. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)