Economic growth negated by cost of living rise – GPSU

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) says that the reported 5% growth in the economy over the last year indicated by the government has been negated by a 10% rise in the cost of living over the same period.

A New Year’s message from the union’s president, Patrick Yarde, stated that while the 5% growth should be welcome news, it has not translated into any benefit for public servants. In fact, it said, “our research has shown that the cost of living for public servants has increased more than 10% over this period of purported growth while the increase in remuneration of 5% imposed by the government is in fact way below the level of inflation, which was stated as 8.3%.”

Further, it said, the standard of living of workers and the population at large has been eroded to the extent that there is increasing poverty with many not being able to satisfy the basic requirements to sustain life at an acceptable level with the resulting developments having a negative impact on Guyanese society particularly the workers and consumers of services offered by the public sector.

The migration of qualified personnel as a result of unsatisfactory remuneration packages has consequently left a void that cannot be filled with the lesser qualified personnel that remain, the union noted.

It charged that “the situation is being exacerbated by the strong conviction that even in the public sector, preference in appointments and promotions is being extended to persons on the basis of political, racial and ethnic considerations, which is directly opposed to the provisions of the Public Sector Modernization Programme funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and to which programme the government has committed itself.”

It charged that as “executive lawlessness continues to exist as a problem in our society”, it was disappointed at the apparent indifference of International funding agencies to malpractice especially in matters pertaining to corruption, lack of transparency, accountability and integrity in which “they should have an interest as financiers, and therefore as stakeholders.” Additionally, it said that constitutional provisions and legislation pertaining to these matters are routinely ignored and evidently treated by them as of little or no consequence.

It accused the government of capitalizing on the situation “because of its ability to exploit racial and ethnic differences that pervade the society” and cited the recent elections and more particularly the promoting of divisions in the labour movement, as well as within the ranks of unions, and even worker against worker. Declaring that in the process, the Guyanese nation as a whole would always be the losers and politicians and their adherents, the victors, the union said, “this would only change if and when the population recognizes the negative aspects of the perpetuation of racial, ethnic, cultural and other divisions which continue to divide us and retard our development as a people.” It declared that “we should therefore try feverishly in the new year to heal wounds and strive for unity and harmony in the society.”

It added that the GPSU has already begun putting in place strategies to confront and address obstacles to members’ development and improvement in the quality of life and invited all members to be a part of the effort.