Dear Editor,
With regard to the announced salary increases that the government has given itself and MPs, a Nacta opinion poll I conducted last August found objection from some 96% of those asked about it. Commentaries in the media (including government defenders) are overwhelmingly against the raise. In Trinidad last year, the parliament (both government and opposition) overwhelmingly approved increases in pensions (for retired MPs and senators) and salaries for ministers and MPs.
An opinion poll I conducted found overwhelming opposition to the increases. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar did not proclaim the bill and it died. It is just a matter of time before the coalition government backtracks on the raise.
Nevertheless, I am of the view that a raise is overdue. Ministers, MPs, parliamentary secretaries as well as permanent secretaries and other high-ranking government officers should be paid well. Government’s ranking (and critical) positions should be paid well enough to attract the best minds and professionals from the private sector. Government officers should be paid a similar wage for a similar position in the private sector.
The adage ‘You get what you pay for’ applies here. If you pay low a wage, you get low quality workers. ‘If you want the best service, then you have to pay the best salary.’
An independent Salary Review Board should be established to determine what is an appropriate salary for ranking government officers and MPs. Many countries have such a review board. In India, for example, there is one. In India, there is a current debate on appropriate salaries for MPs and ministers with a commission determining pay increases. In India, a MP gets about US$2000 a month (inclusive of perks, subventions, office expenses, constituency expenses, etc). In the US, a member of Congress gets about $190K a year plus office and constituency expenses. Ranking members get more. Other countries also pay their government officials well. Guyana should follow suit without incurring the wrath of the voters.
There is need for salary increases in Guyana but giving yourselves a 50% increase and only 5% to other government workers a mere four months after coming to office understandably leads to angst among the population. Government should re-examine the raise and rethink whether it has made a wise decision. Ministers and MPs should emulate the example of Dr and Mrs Jagan: work for free; donate your income to worthy causes.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
