A New and United Guyana (ANUG) yesterday called for major relief for the working class utilising monies accruing from oil sales.
In a statement to mark Labour Day, ANUG contended that the real cost of living since 2020 has jumped by over 40%.
“In particular, the cost of essential commodities has risen drastically: plantain was $80 per lb and is now $200 per lb. It is the working class, who have already endured much over fifty years of decay under poor leadership, who are hardest hit by these increases”, the party said.
ANUG, which shares a joinder seat in Parliament with two other groups, said that by a stroke of luck, Guyana has newfound wealth which could easily be directed to relieve that hardship. It said that Guyana has received over US$700m in royalties and profit from oil production since March, 2020 and more revenue is expected shortly.
“One would imagine that the Government, flush with funds, would prioritize the alleviation of the distress of the working class by (1) raising salaries in the public, police and teaching services, especially at the lower scale, by (2) raising the minimum wage, by (3) lifting the income tax threshold, and by (4) providing a system of unemployment and sickness benefits and benefits for school children using the existing National Insurance Scheme structure”, ANUG said.
It noted however that the Government has raised public servants’ wages by 7% and the minimum wage is less than US$400.
“The working poor continue to see their meagre income taxed, and the Government tells us that the National Insurance Scheme is bankrupt, and that the Government cannot account for the monies handed out in their cash handout schemes”, the party said.
It charged that billions of dollars are being awarded by the Government in an opaque system where “friends and family continue to benefit” and billions are spent to prop up a disastrous GuySuCo, and billions are earmarked for a Gas to Shore project for which the country has seen no feasibility study. The party also adverted to the recent announcement of VAT relief for cement.
“The working poor do not eat concrete, and they do not buy concrete”, the party declared.
