President Irfaan Ali yesterday announced that effective from January 1st, 2023, sections of the Joint Services will benefit from adjustments to their minimum salaries to the tune of $1b.
In an address to the nation, Ali said that the adjustments to the minimum salaries are additional to the eight percent across-the-board increase for public servants which was announced last week.
“…..These revisions to the salaries of the members of the Disciplined Services will benefit an estimated 8000 persons and will increase the disposable income of our men and women in uniform by over $1b annually,” Ali announced.
He said among the factors taken into consideration in determining the adjustments was the need to resolve anomalies and disparities across the various services.
“We were also mindful of the need to ensure that we improve our competitiveness, particularly at the entry level so that our Disciplined Services continue to be an attractive employment prospect for our young men and women,” Ali said.
Ali urged members of the Disciplined Services to honour the adjustments and to deliver “better service” to citizens.
“We expect you to honour these adjustments with dignity, with hard work, with accountability, with transparency and we expect you to perform at all times at the highest level. We expect you to deliver a better service to the people of our country. Things will only get better, our country and conditions under which you live will only get better. I assure you of this”, the President asserted.
As he pledged his government’s continued commitment to improving the working conditions of employees within the public sector as well as every Guyanese, Ali said during the course of this week there will be announcements of adjustments in salaries for other categories of workers.
Adjustments for members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) which were announced by Ali target from Constables up to Assistant Commissioners who will see increases in their minimum salaries varying from between 5 to 21 percent from the new year.
Ali announced that Constables will now have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $94,907 to $102,488. Constables with 5 to 10 years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $110,000 while those with more than 10 years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $115,000.
“So for Constables, the adjustment that will be made will see Constables that have more than 10 years in that rank now earning $115,000 which in some instances is almost a $19,000 increase from where they were,” Ali said.
Lance Corporals
The current minimum salary for Lance Corporals will be adjusted upwards from $108,719 to $115,000, Ali said. Lance Corporals with 5 to 10 years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $120,000 and those with more than 10 years of experience in that rank will now receive a salary of no less than $125,000.
Meanwhile, the current minimum salaries of Corporals will move upwards from $111,327 to $125,000. Corporals with 5 to 10 years of experience will now receive a salary no less than $130,000. And, those with more than 10 years of experience will receive a salary of no less than $135,000.
Sergeants on the other hand, Ali said will have their current minimum salary adjusted upward from $128,056 to $140,000. “This represents an additional 9.3 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Sergeant. Additionally, Sergeants with five to ten years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $145,000, and those with more than ten years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $150,000,”Ali said.
Inspectors will benefit from an increase in their current minimum salary which will be adjusted upwards from $163,712 to $170,000 with Inspectors who have 5 and more years of experience now receiving a salary of no less than $175,000.
Chief Inspectors’ current minimum salary will move up from $178,630 to $185,000. Those with more than 5 years of experience will benefit from a minimum salary of $185,000.
Further, Ali said that the current minimum salary for Cadet Officers will be adjusted upwards from $171,224 to $185,000. “This represents an additional 8 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Cadet Officer. Cadet Officers with five and more years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $185,000,” Ali said.
Ali went on to say that Assistant Superintendents will have their current minimum salary moved from $188,978 to $200,000 and Deputy Superintendents will now have their current minimum salary adjusted from $188,978 to $230,000. “This represents an additional 21.7 percent increase on their current minimum salary,” Ali noted.
Those who hold the rank of Superintendents and Senior Superintendents will have their current minimum salary moved from $200,299 to $240,000 and $296,269 to $320,000, respectively.
“Additionally, Senior Superintendents with more than 5 years of experience would also benefit from this minimum,” Ali said.
Assistant Commissioners will also have their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $418,518 to $425,000.
Finally for the GPF, Ali said Rural Constables will benefit from an increase in their current minimum salary from $75,203 to $85,000 and neighbourhood police officers will see increases from $84,387 to $95,000.
Other disciplined services
Yesterday’s announcement by the Head of State did not include any increase for members of the Guyana Prison Service.
However, ranks within the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were included.
As it relates to members of the GFS, Ali announced that the salaries for firemen and firewomen with 5 to 10 years of experience will increase from $102,488 to $110,000. And, those with more than 10 years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $115,000.
The current minimum salary for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) will be adjusted from $88,143 to $95,000. EMTs with 5 to 10 years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $105,000. And, those with more than 10 years of experience will receive a salary of no less than $110,000.
Leading firemen and women, according to Ali will see their current minimum salary adjusted from $122,241 to $130,000. “This represents an additional 6.3 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a leading fireman/firewoman. Additionally, leading firemen/firewomen with five and more years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $130,000,” Ali announced.
Additionally, he said the salaries for section leaders will rise from $154,172 to $174,172, with section leaders with 5 and more years of experience now receiving a salary of no less than $174,172.
Sub-Officers’ current minimum salary was also adjusted upwards from $154,181 to $174,181 with those with more than 5 years of experience receiving a salary of no less than $174,181.
Further, Ali noted that Cadet Officers’ minimum salary was adjusted upwards from $171,938 to $185,000. “This represents an additional 7.6 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Cadet Officer. Additionally, Cadet Officers with five and more years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $185,000,” he said.
Station Officers will now be paid a salary of $260,000, an increase from $251,639. Station officers with 5 and more years of experience will also benefit from no less than this increase of $260,000, Ali said.
The salary for Divisional Officers was adjusted upwards from $337,364 to $345,000.
Ali also announced adjustments to the salaries of recruits and privates of the GDF.
He said the current minimum salary for recruits was adjusted upwards from $94,485 to $100,000. Recruits with 5 and more years of experience will now also have a salary of no less than $100,000.
The adjustments for privates will see their salaries being moved from $94,771 to $102,488.
“This represents an additional 8.1 percent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a Private. Additionally, Privates with five to ten years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $110,000, and those with more than ten years of experience will now receive a salary of no less than $115,000,” Ali said.
Ali reiterated his government’s commitment to enhancing the welfare of all of its people.
“My government has made it very clear that we are committed to the prosperity of every family, to the improvement of the lives of every Guyanese….We are committed in a systemic way and in a way that allows every single Guyanese to have the best possible future here,” Ali said.
