Dear Editor,
Most Public Service employees were completely blindsided by the salary increase offered by the government. Don’t think anyone envisaged that amount. Many assumed the best case scenario to be a double digit increase while most hoped that the worst case scenario would be something better than last year. With our oil revenues burgeoning due to three ships pumping oil, public expenditure being at levels unseen in our history and government going all over the world and boasting about us being the fastest growing economy in the world, none could have been faulted for thinking that the main resource in the land – human resources – would also get a tangible piece of the pie. .
All year our government kept us waiting. The highest leaders of the land, our President and VP, subtly offered public comments which hinted at something substantial being in the offing. Not once did they warn us that there may have been a tightening of the belt and that we should be prepared for same.
With Christmas fast approaching and nothing being said by the government, many had to take the jump and assume that they would be offering something tangible, They thus commenced making preparations for the holiday season and beyond under the assumption that a decent piece of income would be coming in before the holidays..
But then the bombshell offer came and what was offered was substantially lower than the worst of expectations. It was also lower than what the previous government ever offered even without oil. So here now were thousands of employees being forced to backpedal on their holiday plans and many vendors and businesses glancing worriedly at their stocks and wondering if it will be sold.
The burning question for many is if this was always the amount intended to be offered? Even Stabroek News publicly said that 9% was in the offing. Or was this offer tied to our present national security situation? If it is the latter then the decent thing would be for someone in government to say so.
Government needs to also stop playing with the emotions of the people. Be clear to them. If they knew there was going to be a tightening of the belt then say something earlier and let the masses know. That way the people could have planned themselves better.
And lastly, do not ever wait until the last minute again to announce the salary increase. Thousands were forced to restructure their holiday plans because of that. Remember we are humans and not pawns in a political game.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)