Councillors of the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) from both the People’s

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt (right) and Regional Vice Chairman and Juliet Nandranie Coonjah

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) have unanimously rejected the salary increases for Government Ministers. At the statutory meeting for the month of October, the issue was raised by Regional Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah and discussed by the Council. Coonjah, during her address to the Council, said that it was disappointing that the Government saw it fit to increase the salaries when rice farmers across the country, particularly those in Region Two, have been calling for help. Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt in his address to the RDC said that the disrespect shown to farmers by the Government was worrying. Ramdatt said such disrespect came at a time when rice, coconut and other crop farmers and the business sector in the region are struggling to survive. According to Ramdatt, the new Government is yet to deliver on its “immediate” promises and the increase in salaries for Ministers is a” pure example of insult to citizens”. Following the presentation, the Council moved a vote and unanimously rejected the salary increases, calling on President David Granger to reverse the decision. Amid the massive public outcry, President Granger sought to defend and justify the decision to have hefty salary increases for Ministers. According to the Head of State, the salary increases will eventually translate to good governance. State Minister Joseph Harmon had stated that the salary increase decision was made to ensure Ministers and Government officials are paid an attractive salary so as to discourage them from being corrupt. Minister Harmon defended Cabinet’s decision to increase its own pay by millions of dollars, declaring it “justified”. The Minister’s statement sent shockwaves throughout the country, given the fact that Government and its Ministers have only been in office for four months. Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams had stated that the process of increasing the salaries was ‘transparent’. Governance Minister Raphael Trotman had asked Guyanese to trust the Government and to understand that the decision by Cabinet to increase its own salaries was justified. In the Official Gazette published on September 25, it was revealed a Cabinet Minister would be given a hefty sum of $10,439,124 annually. It is further detailed that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo would be benefiting from in excess of $20 million per annum, while the other Vice Presidents would each receive $11,135,064.