GUYANA-LABOR-Opposition legislator not impressed with salary increase announced for public servants.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, An opposition legislator says she does not believe that the eight percent salary increase announced by the Guyana government to public servants will have any significant impact

“At the end of this month, at the end of December, then people are going to be questioning what did we really receive because Guyanese people can now make a choice as to whether the APNU+AFC (A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance for Change) government had their best interest at heart as oppose to the PPP (People’s Progressive Party ) government because we didn’t only give increases to bridge the gaps left by the PPP after their 23 years in office,” said Volda Lawrence.

Last week, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced an across-the-board increase of eight percent to public servants, teachers, members of the disciplined services, constitutional officeholders, as well as government pensioners. He said that the increase would be granted retroactively to January 1, 2022.

“My government remains resolutely committed to ensuring that the lives of all Guyanese are improved steadily, and in a tangible and demonstrable manner, as we work towards realizing national prosperity for the benefit of all Guyanese,” he said.

But speaking on the opposition’s television program, Nation Watch, Lawrence predicted that after the lump sum payment to public servants in December, the cost of living complaints would be high on the agenda again.

She said that the increase should have reflected the reality on the ground after careful consideration with the unions representing the workers.

“So the prices are going to balloon, you are giving this increase at the time of Christmas when everybody is going out there and shopping, so basically at the end of December, people are going to start questioning, did I really get an increase, what is it I got? Because where is it.”

Lawrence said the poverty rate is way too high in Guyana for the government to just impose its will on the people without having a careful analysis of their needs.

“So it’s time for them to start considering measures that will affect people across the board in a positive way, you give an increase, and it sounds good but when I, as a head of a household, get out into the market, get into the supermarket, then it’s another ball game,” Lawrence said.