Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan yesterday said that the impending increase to public servants’ salaries this year, will take the overall hike to an all-time high of 75% since 2015.
The Department of Public Information (DPI) said that he made this pronouncement during a meeting with residents of Kwakwani (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).
“Look at the space of time. We started increasing salaries from the 1st of July 2015. And the last increase was retroactive to January 1, 2018. In two and a half years, we would have increased salaries by over 64%. By the time we are finished with salaries for this year, I can guarantee you that between July 1, 2015, and January 1, 2019, it will be over 75% increase,” Jordan told residents.
He noted that the Coalition Government has also increased the personal allowance.
“If you were working for $100,000, then still $50,000 remained your personal allowance, and you had to pay tax on the $50,000. And if you were working for $500,000, only $50,000 you were being allowed, and you would have had to pay tax on $450,000. We changed all of that,” he declared.
On Friday, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) criticized the government over the arbitrary increases that have been imposed on public servants.
GPSU President Patrick Yarde said “We would wish to state that we will respond to any arbitrary increase in a most vigorous manner”.
