The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) yesterday condemned what it said was the “ugly decision” by the APNU+AFC administration to grant “whopping” salary increases to Vice Presidents, the Minister of State, Cabinet Ministers and Junior Ministers.
In a statement, the opposition party called for a rescinding of this decision. The increases to the various categories range as high as 50%. There had been earlier intimations that the APNU+AFC government was planning large pay hikes for its ministers but this had been played down by senior officials. The increases were gazetted on September 23rd.
“To grant such astronomical increases in salaries to functionaries in a government that is only four (4) months old is unconscionable, precipitous and insensitive”, the PPP railed yesterday.
It said that only two months ago, on the eve of the 2015 budget presentation, spokespersons for the government had denied following leaks in the media that whopping salary increases were in the offing.
It added that Minister of State Joe Harmon had declared in June 2015 that APNU+AFC “had essentially found the cupboard bare” meaning the public treasury had no money and that the “country was bankrupt”. This, the PPP said was clearly intended to dupe the Guyanese people.
“Now with the public disclosure of the ugly increases to the APNU+AFC Cabinet and non-Cabinet members, the question now being asked is how, with a bankrupt economy and an empty treasury can such whopping increases in salaries be afforded? The big lie has now been exposed for what it is”, the PPP said.
Adverting to statements in a news item on the increases in yesterday’s Stabroek News, the PPP said that Harmon may not wish to “make any apologies whatsoever for Ministers receiving increases in salaries” but he could be certain of one thing: “he and his Cabinet colleagues will have to take the blows from an infuriated and deeply offended Guyanese public who reject this meat for boys; bones for the workers wages policy of the government.”
The PPP said that the salary increases, which Guyanese tax payers will have to bear, comes at a time when rice farmers, sugar workers and the Guyanese people as whole have become disenchanted, disillusioned and totally fed-up with the Granger Administration.
“It now appears that personal wealth and accumulation is a prerequisite for public service. How could these four months’ old Ministerial neophytes, who are still wet behind the ears, yet to be assessed with no outstanding stellar performances …be entitled and qualified for such fat paychecks?”, the PPP queried.
It asked where are the studies and the data-supported evidence showing that higher salaries make a better politician or motivate elected governmental officials to work harder. The PPP said it is of the view that the pay hikes must have been a done deal long before the APNU+AFC was catapulted into office in May. And to facilitate these over-generous salaries, it charged that around $40m must be hidden somewhere in the estimates of the 2015 budget.
The PPP said it rejects the claim that the increases are “justifiable” and deemed as libellous, defamatory and provocative the outburst made by Harmon in yesterday’s news item that;
“The PPP were prepared to accept low salaries because they were (thieving) money all over the place…”
The PPP said that this is the same Harmon who claims to have an interest in unity talks with the PPP.
“Mr. Harmon is advised to be careful with the lies, calumnies and invectives hurled at members of the PPP. He is aware that people in glass houses should not throw stones. There are few in the APNU+AFC with clean hands nor a lily white political background”, the PPP declared. According to the Official Gazette, Cabinet ministers will now receive $10,439,124 annually, a 50% increase from what was previously stated in the Principal Act. Also enjoying a 50% increase will be the Speaker of the National Assembly who will remain on par with Cabinet ministers as well as the Leader of the Opposition. Their monthly earnings will be just under $870,000 from the $579,000 monthly under the previous administration.
Vice Presidents, other than the PM, are to be paid $11,135,064 per annum.
Junior Ministers of Government will earn $8,346,492, an over 16% increase from the annual salary of a Cabinet minister under the former administration who was earning $6,959,412 annually.
The Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo will now receive $20,580,000 annually, an over $2M increase from what was previously stipulated in the Principal Act, taking his monthly salary to over $1.7M.
Members of Parliament without a designation will see a 20% salary increase, taking their annual salaries from $2,002,116 to $2,402,532. Parliamentary Secretaries and the Chief Whip will earn over 12% more, taking their salaries from $3,336,876 and $2,384,328 to $3,753,984 to $2,682,360 respectively.
The Deputy Speaker will now earn $2,702,880, just under a $300,000 annual increase.
The Gazette stated that the Attorney General and the Chancellor will earn the same annual salary and no change was made.
While in opposition, APNU and the AFC had heavily criticised what they termed “fat cats” with “super salaries”. Now in government, when asked to justify the increase on Tuesday, Harmon told the media that “the ministers of government now justify an increase. The salary of a minister, a senior minister is five hundred and sixty something thousand a month. That is money I paid to one of my attorneys that works for me when I was in private practice. Why should I be working for that?”
