The David Granger administration’s decision to raise the salaries of its ministers by as much as 50% continues to draw criticism with political commentator Ralph Ramkarran calling it an abuse of the electorate’s trust and the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) calling it “questionable” and urging the government to let good sense prevail.
“The deleterious consequences of this ill-advised act of self-indulgence, bereft of sensitivity, violative of principle, devoid of support except from its beneficiaries, will continue to seep into the national consciousness and will eventually coagulate around negative perceptions, usually expressed in the dismissive – ‘they’re all the same.’ The short-sighted manner, the deceptive process and the defiant tones which accompanied the decision, will colour the outlook by which the Administration is viewed, including by its friends and well-wishers,” Ramkarran wrote in his column in the Sunday Stabroek yesterday.
“If the Government wants to recover some semblance of rectitude it may wish to consider the establishment of a permanent, statutory, structure…and publicly commit to asking the body to review the recent increases and decide whether they are compatible with normally accepted principles and the disparities that existed immediately before the increases,” he added.
“Such a concession, a variation of the suggestion made by Christopher Ram, would go a far way in removing public disquiet over the matter, which disquiet would remain, even when the matter is overtaken by other events,” Ramkarran declared.
President David Granger has defended the recent salary hikes for his ministers, which range as high as 50% for those in Cabinet, calling the move an investment in quality governance. The increases, which were quietly gazetted without a public announcement, have been met with stiff opposition, particularly since the coalition had promised “significant increases” for public servants during its election campaign, but only delivered a 5% increase in its first national budget.
According to the order gazetted by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Cabinet ministers will now receive $10,439,124 annually, representing a 50% increase. Junior ministers will earn $8,346,492, which represents an over 16% increase from the annual salary of a Cabinet minister under the former administration. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will now receive $20,580,000 annually, an over $2 million increase, taking his monthly salary to over $1.7 million. Vice-Presidents, other than the Prime Minister, are to be paid $11,135,064 per annum.
Critics have said that ministerial salaries should not be raised much beyond the increase which was paid out to public servants.
In his column, Ramkarran questioned how could the many experienced politicians in the Government not have known that the collective national senses would revolt against the Cabinet awarding itself any increases at all, much less fifty percent in most cases, with public servants and seniors having received less than promised on account of shortage of resources and with electricity and water subsidies being removed from seniors.
“How could the Government not know that fixing your own salaries from the public purse, which is taxpayers’ moneys held in trust, is an abuse of that trust and of the electorate’s trust? How could the Cabinet not understand that this is a blatant case of a conflict of interest, as severe as any that can be imagined?” he questioned.
Golden opportunity
He said that the government had a golden opportunity to begin the move away from the arrogance and the discredited practices of the past. He pointed out that repeated suggestions are in the public domain, articulated not long ago by Henry Jeffrey, for the establishment of a statutory structure comprising various sectors of the society to periodically review salaries of government ministers as exists in many countries, including neighbouring ones.
“Even if this were not possible within the time frame that the Government had in mind, an ad hoc, independent, committee was possible,” he wrote.
Meantime, in a statement yesterday, the GTUC reminded politicians that the power and authority they use are vested in them by the citizens.
“Ultimately politicians are accountable to the citizens and must never lose sight of this principle. As this salary outcry is increasing and being sustained beyond the proverbial ‘nine days’ it requires good sense prevailing on the part of the government,” the body said.
“GTUC’s position on the salary issue is that of process. It is our belief that if you start wrong, you will end wrong. The product from the application of a wrong process will be questionable and this in part is driving the outcries today,” it asserted.
The trade union body had said that citizens’ response to the increase of remuneration for ministers and parliamentarians calls for commitment from the government that would result in a decision that society can accept and respect. “While there may be an absence of scientific polling to gauge overall opinion on pertinent issues in society, the continuous, sustained and heightened voices, inclusive of that from varied and unexpected sources, are enough to warrant the government’s judicious attention,” the statement said.
The GTUC also called for the reinstatement of collective bargaining and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms as a matter of priority. “Collective bargaining must commence in the Public Sector, which will ensure the resetting of relativity in the wage and salary structure, from which ministers, parliamentarians and other public servants will earn wages/salary and conditions of employment as a result of the process,” the body said.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon triggered a tidal wave of criticism two week ago, when he said that he would make no apologies for the 50% salary increases to Cabinet ministers. He argued that it is well-deserved and also said it was necessary to avoid a situation that existed under the former administration, whose members he suggested were prepared to accept low salaries because of graft.
Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, who in August assured that no increases were to be implemented in immediate future, attempted to defend the hikes on Wednesday, when he told reporters that they were “fair” and “necessary” and intended to ensure parity between salaries paid to members of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government.
Nonetheless criticism has continued to mount.
Critics, who have urged that the decision be reversed, have pointed out that ministers enjoy a range of benefits, including duty-free concession on a motor vehicle by virtue of being Members of Parliament; chauffeur-driven State vehicle(s); housing allowance or the provision of free accommodation; free electricity, telephone and internet services; 24-hour guard service; a gardener/handyman; and maid services.
