Reverse salary increases or give money to social causes – GSM New York
Wednesday, October 21 2015, Source
PUBLIC opinion from Guyanese in New York, relative to the massive salary increases that the new Government of Guyana gave itself, mirrors the local sentiment. And Guyanese Solidarity Movement (GSM) has demanded that the decision be reversed or face possible mobilisation of Guyanese people in revolt.
“There is no way the knockout pay increases given to greedy politicians can be justified especially when public servants were given a measly five per cent and struggling Guyanese students, who were given $10,000 by the PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/ Civic) government, saw it taken away by the coalition,” said the GSM’s Rueben Khusial.
He made clear that the GSM views the increased salaries as an act of hypocrisy, particularly since Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge had previously attacked the previous former government for allegedly earning large salaries while in government.
He said, “The GSM said it is stunned that after being in office for less than six months and with the economy in meltdown, the ruling Guyana coalition seeks to first fill their pockets.”
“It would appear that the increase given to them is a done deal and if Mr. Nagamootoo and the rest of his AFC colleagues have any political decency left, they would not accept the increase but give it away,” Khusial added.
According to him, the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition government should follow the example of former Uruguayan President JosÉ Mujica who donated 90 per cent of his salary to the poor and lived on his farm instead of the Presidential palace.
The GSM official acknowledged the attempts made by the current Administration to defend the its decision.
“Most shameful was Minister Joe Harmon’s defense when he said that he has no apologies to make on the increases. This shameless act is taking place while the sugar and rice industries are facing serious problems, the economy is in a tailspin, and there is a dramatic increase in crime,” he said.
“With all the brouhaha about transparency and good governance this is what the APNU-AFC regime is doing. It must stop doling out the state’s resources for themselves, their friends, and families while the working poor is being stiffed and expected to live on meager handouts,” Khusial added.
The September 25th edition of the Official Gazette confirmed that the Prime Minister and all Government Ministers have received a salary increase.
Nagamootoo, at the top of the earning bracket, will now earn $20.6M, a 10 per cent increase from what former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds was paid. Senior Ministers have had their pay packets doubled from $6.9M to $10.5m. Junior Minister will now be paid $8.3M. House Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland, will also benefit and his salary has been upped from $6.9M to $10.4M. President David Granger will also benefit from a salary increase of 5 per cent, equivalent to $1.2M more a year.
The salary increases are retroactive from July 1, 2015 – a mere six weeks after APNU+AFC took office.
