Trotman says salary increases were ‘fair’, ask Guyanese to ‘trust’ gov’t
Wednesday , October 14 2015, Source
PRESIDENT David Granger will also benefit from the salary increases and will receive some $1.2m more a year. And despite mounting criticisms of the current A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) government over the 50 per cent salary increases for its Prime Minister and Government ministers, the Administration is sticking to its decision.
At a post-Cabinet press briefing today, Governance Minister, Raphael Trotman, when asked said 100 per cent increases were “astronomical” not the 50 per cent that was approved and made clear that the treasury can sustain the increases.
As such he contends that “50 per cent is fair” and “inevitable” – a move that the government has explained to the Guyanese people as a necessary one.
Finance Minister Winston Jordan, before Trotman, was the last to speak on the issue and he made clear that there will be no reversal of the decision to have the salary increases, adding that the increases were necessary.
In the September 25th edition of the Official Gazette the Prime Minister and all Government Ministers have received a salary increase, way above what was offered to public servants in the 2015 Budget.
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.
Supporters of the APNU+AFC Administration, including outspoken critics of the former government, Christopher Ram and Annand Goolsarran, up to yesterday condemned the move and called for it to be reversed.
The salary increases were made public by a media report almost two weeks after it was done. However, Minister Trotman charged that nothing was hidden, since the Official Gazette is a public document.
Finance Minister’s pronouncement that the salary increase were necessary and the comment by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, regarding him having “no apology” for the increased were also queried.
“I think he (Harmon) was caught off guard,” Trotman said, adding that while the Minister of State was not misspeaking, he was given opinion.
Asked what government will “tell the ordinary” Guyanese, the Governance Minister called on citizens to “trust” the administration.
“Trust s to bring the good life to you,” he said.
Trotman pointed out that the Public Service Commission of Inquiry is also ongoing improved benefits for those in the public service should come out of that process.
Red Thread is planning protest actions outside Public Building once the National Assembly meets for a sitting and the political Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is expected to challenge the move in the House with a motion.
