The Youth Coalition for Transformation (YCT) yesterday expressed its discontent with the meagre 5 per cent pay increase given to public servants.
Speaking at a press conference at City Hall, executive member of the YCT Dwayne Dodson said that public servants, especially the country’s teachers and nurses, deserve more than the usual meagre 5 per cent increase on their salaries. “We believe the time is overdue for serious dialogue on redress and reforms with the government and public service union to deliver a sound package to make public servants comfortable,” Dodson argued, mentioning that the so-called bonus does not include tax breaks or reductions and therefore YCT remains firm in its stance for the cutback of the 16 per cent VAT and the 33.3 per cent income tax.
“These taxes are part of the burden of daily living in Guyana…. an economic noose around the necks of Guyanese. The public servants deserve Christmas cheer not bad news,” he added.
He mentioned that even the institutions that government workers depend on are in deficit, while highlighting the crisis of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS). “The crisis is bordered on a mismanagement of NIS funds and a poor regulatory framework where NIS monies were designated in government projects without due checks and balances,” he stated, urging Guyanese to save.
“Conservative spending is also a way for us to empower ourselves and our communities. It means spending wisely, saving our money and budgeting,” he added, hoping that the year 2013 will welcome Guyanese with money in their pockets.
