-Jagdeo says hydro on hold
President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Services, announced yesterday that members of the GDF will be given one month’s tax-free salary as their bonus this year.
This bonus will be given across the board, he said, and will be extended to the members of the disciplined services as well. The Disciplined Services also include the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service and the Guyana Prison Service. This announcement was made yesterday at the annual Christmas lunch for the members of the military.
The payment of bonuses is expected to cost the government in excess of $330M. President Jagdeo said that although costly – especially when considering that it was a challenging year financially – it was well deserved.
Last year, the Head of State said that from this year, bonuses will be given based on performance and would not be automatic as was previously the case. However, in saluting the efforts of the soldiers, he said that they performed creditably in what was a very challenging year in terms of criminal activity across the country, marked by several “sensational crimes.”
Meanwhile, the Head of State elaborated on the consequences of the global financial crises and its implications for the country. He said that the government will continue to spend money in developing social programmes primarily in the health, education and housing sectors. However, he said that several major projects have been put on hold and this included the hydropower and alumina plants. The hydropower reference would likely relate to the long-awaited Amaila Falls project. Both bauxite companies, RUSAL and Bosai have planned studies in relation to alumina plants but these could be put on hold because of the international crisis. RUSAL last week axed 52 workers from its local operations at Aroaima, Berbice.
The President, however, pledged financial support towards the further education of soldiers. He said that army officers needed to be skilled in specific areas so that when they eventually left the military, they could have access to other jobs.
Meanwhile Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best commended the soldiers for a job well done during the year. He said that the soldiers had helped in making the country a safer place and had done well in securing the country’s borders. He further stated that much more could be done and urged the soldiers to display greater professionalism in the New Year.
This year saw three massacres at Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek which claimed the lives of 31. Elements of the joint services had been accused of involvement in the Lindo Creek attack but the government blamed all three massacres on the Rondell `Fineman’ Rawlins gang. `Fineman’ was killed in a confrontation with security forces in August.
