Dear Editor,

I am thoroughly confused.

A few weeks ago cane harvesters in Berbice protested the rise in the cost of living, and were advised by the Prime Minister (not the Minister of Agriculture) that nothing could be done specifically for cane harvesters.

Within these few weeks it has been announced that public servants will be accorded a 5% salary increase in recognition of the rising cost of living.  This category of employees will include teachers, nurses and the disciplined forces. It is unclear whether contract employees in public service jobs will be similarly facilitated.  As everyone knows they have separate improved remuneration packages, but also qualify for annual across-the-board increases awarded to public servants.

What is puzzling, however, is how cane harvesters are valued alongside certain levels of public servants.  The former are employees perhaps of the most productive and certainly the most valuable sector of this country’s economy; the latter are essentially consumers, and expenditure driven.

The former are part of the public sector.  If, as one understands it, the private sector is being encouraged to consider matching the government’s magnanimity, then the rest of the public sector, particularly GuySuco, should follow the pattern set.

Even more critical however, is the non-reference to pensioners.  If it is recognised that employed persons are disadvantaged by the rise in the cost of living, surely those who must rely on their pensions, and are not exempt from VAT, must have a strong case for even a larger consideration.

Yours faithfully,
Eliah Bijay