Jagdeo welcomes bonus for public servants but says they are still worse off

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Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo says the $50,000 one-off tax-free bonus that will be paid to public servants earning below $500,000 monthly is a welcomed disclosure by the APNU+AFC Government.

“I am extremely happy that public servants will be benefiting from this bonus, particularly since they deserve it,” Jagdeo said in a statement issued on Monday, December 14, 2015.

However, he noted that the public servants are worse off, pointing out that in 2015, they did not benefit from salary increases that were retroactive from January 1st of the year.

“Instead the salary increases were retroactive from July 1st. As such, public servants, while receiving a $50,000 bonus, did not receive the full year’s benefit of the salary increase, as was done in previous years – leaving them worse off in a net sense,” the Opposition Leader said.

Jagdeo finds it ironic that the new government can find $1.54B to pay the bonus even while accusing the former PPP government of leaving a bankrupt country.

“I am disappointed at the fact that the year is almost to an end and sugar workers have not been paid any wage increases, nor an Annual Production Incentive (API) – despite the fact that Government has announced that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has surpassed its production target.”

According to Jagdeo, “This is the first time in several years that sugar workers have been treated in this manner. I am also disappointed in the fact that Government has demonstrated an unwillingness to assist rice farmers and gold miners, despite calls and recommendations of measures that can be taken to support these industries.”

He further noted that “the measures of support announced by the Administration, when matched against other actions taken, leave Guyanese worse off in a net sense. While some public servants will benefit from the $50,000 bonus, Guyanese have seen the removal of the $1.67B cash grant for all public school children, the removal of electricity and water subsidies for pensioners and the removal of other support measures – all aimed at improving the livelihoods of our people.”

 

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13 COMMENTS

  1. That’s chicken feed money to what this government is taking home per month shame apnu/afc mean all people not understand /a fool come to kill guyana and their own people

  2. Jagdeo,you should be the least talking about workers not being paid properly,when your government had a habit of paying the public servants dictatorially 5&6 % retroactively from January for years without consulting with their unions,what a HYPOCRITE you are,you suddenly have become workers conscious.You can only fool the FOOLS following you.

  3. Listen up Side Kick, this Defacto Government presented the biggest budget upon assumption of Office. If the treasury was empty then how did this happened. Since you alluded to have a good understanding of economics then please enlighten us.

  4. Randy have you ever heard the terms ” dumb and dumber” you fit in that shoe perfectly–you know nothing about economics so stop blabbing you mouth.

  5. If this person uses to read the news they wouldn’t make such statements, the ppp/c government was not making any pay increase or even paying their workers or some of their workers. The sold the money. When the APNU/AFC took over they receive money from various countries on various agreement , those funds and revenue collected was able to turn things around financially. If the can retrieve the money stolen by the PPP government for example the GPL, THE GOLD BOARD, THE MARRIOTT HOTEL and Jagdeo himself it will make things better for ALL GUYANESE (ALL RACE)

  6. It’s so funny that for all the years the PPP government was in power or I should say in control, didn’t they know that the workers was economically challenge whiles the ministers and CEO”s were dulling their pockets. For example: the GPL , person who ran off with millions, Jagdeo, who had underhand deals in land and hiding the money stealing the government money to build the Marriott hotel. Don’t the know middle class and under privilege persons had needed increase of wages to survive the Drug running government of the PPP. this is not about race it’s economic and laws of the country, I said this because some small minded people only see things as racist when your speak about the ppp.

  7. Patrick Yarde,where are you,it’s time now to speak up,and let your voice be heard.Don’t go and hide we want you to say something.We need more than this .We does work more hard than the Ministers,Come on Patrick.

  8. This Defacto Government has no sense of economics. They continue to put their foot in their mouths. It’s ironic how they can find money for pay increases and now tax free bonuses for Public Servants but on assuming office they inform their supporters that the PPP/C left an empty treasury. What will they be doing for Rice Farmers, Sugar Workers and the Mining Sector?????

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