Public Servants’ salary increases not ruled out

The Government has not ruled out salary increases for public servants, with Minister of Public Works Hon. Bishop Juan Edghill saying several factors must be taken into consideration first.

The Minister’s comments were in response to an Opposition MP’s question in the House about whether public servants would be getting an increase or a one-off bonus.

Bishop Edghill noted that the PPP/C has a track record and a standard that every year, once there is fiscal space and there is performance in the economy, consideration is given towards remuneration for public servants. 

“I would like to assure the Honourable Members of this House that, even in the midst of underperformance in the economy, mismanagement, maladministration, and spending without due recourse, the PPP/C will at all times, at the appropriate time, consider whatever is workable even in the COVID pandemic environment to do what is good for public servants,” Minister Edghill said.

The Minister added that meeting the needs of Guyanese remains a priority and the government has demonstrated this in its emergency COVID-19 relief measures.  

“That is why we did not have to wait for Christmas to deal with bringing relief to Public Servants and all Guyanese. We ensured they every Guyana had the $25,000 support in the COVID environment. We ensured that all of our people who are working, that they get the necessary PPEs,” the Minister stated. 

He noted that while there is no present announcement of salary increases, Guyanese could rest assured that the Government would consider all factors once Budget 2020 is implemented. 

Minister Edghill has responsibility for finance at this time in the absence of an appointed Minister for that portfolio.