Annually Gov’t has attempted to increase salaries – Finance Minister

by in Guyana, News

Georgetown: Public servants can expect increases in salaries and allowances, in Budget 2020, according to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan. This was revealed when the minister was asked about what could be expected in the upcoming National Budget during a media engagement.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

“They can look forward, again this year, to a salary increase. We are already in negotiations with the teachers. The president has set up a high-level committee on the public service, to look into issues, particularly the wages and allowances of public servants. So, we are hoping that can be concluded in time for the figures to get into the next budget.”

The minister explained that annually, the government has attempted to push salaries towards the level where people generally feel that they can be comfortable. He recalled that the administration inherited a “significant lot”.

The minister reminded that these included spending $40Billion on a “poor GuySuCo, $6Billion towards the failed CLICO, a struggling National Printers, $4Billion for the indebted Marriot Hotel and billions in the payments towards various court cases concluded under the PPP.”

He reminded that since taking office, a variety of measures have been introduced which included increases in salaries, pensions, minimum wages and the tax threshold. It was also pointed out that several communities have benefitted from improved infrastructure such as roads, bridges and lights.

“We are proud of our record of all-round development, given the limitation of the resources. We are proud of our human resource development. Over 1,500 scholarships given to all kinds of people, in all sectors. Our people can look forward to improved benefits, whether they be in the social sector or educational sector, and at the personal level as we go into 2020.”

Last year Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented a $300.7 Billion Budget for the year 2019. It marked an increase of 12.6 percent from 2018. This year’s budget is scheduled for presentation, before the National Assembly, by the end of November.