APNU+AFC front bench-er Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday called for a 10% retroactive salary increase for public servants pending negotiations with the relevant agencies including the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
Labelling the proposal as a “simple demand”, Ramjattan told the second day of the 2021 budget debate that it is in recognition of the hardships being faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I propose that there be a wage increase of 10 percent across the board retroactive to January pending the final negotiations with all stakeholders in Government and the GPSU and in the Public Service other unions,” Ramjattan said.
He said that the 10% is a “minimum” of the “lots more” that is desired. “Please, if you have any heart ensure that happens,” Ramjattan implored the government side.
During the presentation of Budget 2021 earlier this month, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for finance, Dr.Ashni Singh did not specify an increase in wages for public servants.
Yesterday’s debate was filled with continuous heckling from both the Opposition and Government benches. In a few cases, the Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir even called out some members for “shouting” during the contributions of other members.
Monday’s first day of debate drew widespread criticism over vulgar and crass behaviour by a number of MPs on both sides of the House.
Opposition Member of Parliament Dawn Hastings-Williams yesterday joined Ramjattan in his call for an increase in wages and salaries for public servants including members of the Joint Services.
Hastings-Williams said that Budget 2021, does not include anything significant for public servants. As such, she called on the Government to provide details on its plans for a salary increase for public servants this year.
“What is wrong with making that announcement during the four-hour-plus budget speech, Mr. Speaker? Doesn’t the Minister have the authority to pronounce on such matters? Is there someone else designated to make such pronouncements? Or are we telling the nation that there is another substantive Finance Minister in waiting?” Hastings-Williams questioned.
“My question, therefore Mr. Speaker, to the Honour-able Minister of Finance is what percentage increase in wages and salaries is this government prepared to give to our public servants and our Joint Services?” she further asked.
In response, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said the Government, through the Ministry of the Public Service has already indicated that money is included in the budget for the increase of public servants’ salaries.
“…So to come here and try to play on the emotion of people is very cheap politics,” Mustapha said.
“Mr. Speaker, to come here, to come here, and ask for a 10 percent wage increase for public servants, when they dismissed (so many people). How ironic that is? How ironic that is?” Mustapha asked during the beginning of his 35-minute contribution to the debate.
He argued that the budget will improve the lives of every citizen and sector of this country.
`Borrowing’
Ramjattan also chastised the Government for “borrowing” in order to finance the budget.
“The government is simply not spending in accordance with its means,” he charged.
Ramjattan urged that the Government should not get into the habit of borrowing, since this can become a burden to future generations.
“This thing is going to create huge debts for the future generation,” he asserted.
He further stated that last year’s budget, as “emergency as it was” saw borrowing of almost $90B. “Which is a kind of a deficit, huge deficit budget,” Ramjattan said.
Ramjattan added that although the coalition was accused of “taxing and spending”, the PPP mantra is “borrowing and spending”.
However, Mustapha said the Government borrowing of funds was “necessary”.
He said this was as a result of the “unhealthy” state the APNU+AFC coalition left the treasury in August, 2020.
“Mr Speaker, the honourable member talked about debt and they didn’t borrow when they were in Govern-ment. The treasury was healthy, the economy was healthy when the PPP left Government in 2015. They didn’t had to borrow money,” Mustapha said.
What we received August last year? The treasury was in a deficit, that the treasury was bankrupt. As a result of that there was no fund in the country Mr Speaker,” he added.
