Dear Editor,
The new Finance Minister has already thrown caution to the wind in relation to all the promises made by APNU+AFC during the campaign. Stabroek News reported that “the new government is looking to increase public servants’ salaries by 10% in keeping with the APNU+AFC promise in its elections manifesto, according to newly-appointed Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who says the administration also has to work on tempering expectations.”
This is a startling revelation from Mr Jordan who was only confirmed in the position less than a week ago. Remember, it was his party on the campaign trail that promised “significant salary increases for government workers” within the first 100 days in government, while the PPP/C’s rationed and responsible 5% to 8% annual increases to public servants were ridiculed. The PPP/C had already enforced their increase retroactive to Jan 2014. Will this simply be the normal 2015 increase?
This all now seems to have just been a ploy to dupe public servants so they could get into office and once that mission was accomplished, they resorted to the cry of “tempering expectations.” I hope the GPSU is paying attention and will speak on this matter. After all, this was the group which took to the streets protesting for a 30% minimum increase in 2014.
Most important to note is the Finance Minister’s “review” of VAT as opposed to the “immediate reduction” promised in the first 100 days.
Yours faithfully,
Peter R Ramsaroop
