Dear Editor,
Until now I have deliberately remained silent on the raging controversy over the government’s decision to give a large increase in salaries to ministers and members of parliament. The reason being is that the more I reflect on this issue the more I am convinced that there is no easy way to bridge the present divide between the masses and the political leadership.
I believe that in so far as this dispute is concerned there are too many spokespersons involved in explaining the whys of this matter. In doing so the views they express only serve to raise the anger of citizens. Take for example Prime Minister Mr. Moses Nagamootoo’s recent utterances on the issue. His explanation, coming shortly after President David Granger had spoken was not helpful. In a way it reopened wounds that the President tried to close. The Prime Minister demonstrated that he has tremendous comfort in the belief that Guyanese have a short memory and will soon forget this episode. To some extent his reading of the Guyanese people’s waning interest in matters of national importance is correct, but he should not take this for granted and believe that in this instance their response will be the same.
By expressing his support for the new salaries so early in the controversy President David Granger may have expended valuable political capital, at an inopportune moment. While his intention was honourable, objectively, it has left the coalition government with no room to retreat on the increases. The salary dispute has now become a “zero sum situation” – with winners and losers. One does not have to be a political expert to recognize that this situation is not good for either the APNU+AFC government or the nation. Astute politics demand that the political directorate demonstrates the ability and willingness to make concessions to the people on this very grave matter. The earlier it does so, the better.
It will be recalled that the President was reported as saying that the decision to increase the salaries was difficult but necessary. I got the impression that he was indicating that there was a great deal of soul searching by members of the cabinet before the decision was arrived at. If my reading of the President is correct he seemed to have been caught between a rock and a hard place when his position is juxtaposed against Minister Trotman’s earlier position when in defending the decision to hike salaries Trotman said it had the full support of cabinet. When the announcement was made there was no mention of any increase in the President’s salary. Later the nation was informed by the PM, that the President got a 5% increase in his salary. If this is true it represents the lowest increase in the package and can be interpreted as evidence that the President was trying to separate himself from the “pack” and his acceptance of the small increase was an act of solidarity with his colleagues.
As the fiasco evolved and immediately after President Granger’s declaration of support for the increases, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo wasted no time in gathering as much political mileage as he could have garnered by announcing that the PPP/C Parliamentarians were distancing themselves from the increases. At face value this is good politics for the PPP/C. However, the possibility remains that in spite of the fact that the Opposition Leader is on record as saying that the increases will be returned or donated to charitable organisations, that party may allow its MPs to use the increases on themselves.
As I indicated earlier there is no easy way out of this unfortunate situation. I feel that in spite of the present difficulties we in the ruling coalition – leaders and activists – have a duty to do a little soul-searching and engage in self-criticism. Our challenge now is to work privately and publicly to end the impasse between the masses and the political leadership over the ministerial and parliamentary increases in salaries. Serious politics require that we do so and stand up to our responsibilities in the present crisis.
I feel the least the government can do right now, to regain the confidence and respect of the masses is to start a process of reconciliation by declaring to the nation that there will be no further increases in ministers’ salaries for the remaining life of the government.
This is my humble recommendation to my comrades. Such a commitment in my opinion can go a far way to begin the healing process.
Yours faithfully,
Tacuma Ogunseye