Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman today denied that there will be astronomical pay increases for government ministers and with additional allowances.
He was speaking during a post-cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency amid rising public concern that major pay hikes had been planned for government officials.
Trotman said that there is a review in place to set salaries that will differentiate the variety of posts including junior ministers, senior ministers and vice presidents.
Some reports had stated that pay hikes by as much as 50% were under consideration for ministers. Trotman did say that the variety of figures being circulated across the media spectrum were not figures known to him.
At a previous post cabinet briefing, prior to the potential ministerial wage increases being ventilated, he had stated that the proposed 20% pay increase to public servants was under review. He had told members of the media that the Finance Minister was currently working on a percentage increase that was fiscally plausible hinting that it may not be the increase originally promised under the APNU+AFC Coalition Manifesto.
In an interview with Stabroek News in May, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said that the new government was looking to increase public servants’ salaries by 10% in keeping with the APNU+AFC promise in its elections manifesto. He had also said that the administration has to work on tempering expectations.
Jordan said while it sounds good to have a 10% payout, it makes no sense if you have to spend more and “end up in a deeper hole.”
Critics have said that ministerial salaries should not be raised beyond the increase which will be paid out to public servants.
August 10 is budget day and the increase is expected to be announced then.