On November 18, 2021, the Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, announced a 7% across-the-board salary increase retroactive January 1, 2021, for all public servants. But according to Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Ganesh Mahipaul, not every servant of the people got an increase.
He told the House this morning during the opening of budget 2022 debates that Regional Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons, Mayor and Deputy Mayors, who are, according to the Laws of Guyana – Chapter 28:09 – fulltime officers of the Regional Democratic Councils and Municipalities, respectively, and who are also elected by the people of Guyana, did not receive that 7% retroactive January 1, 2021. Mahipaul has asked that the Finance Minister provide an explanation.
But this is not the first time that question is being asked. In fact, it was submitted under “Oral Questions without Notice” during the 35th Sitting of the National Assembly earlier this month. It was deemed “not urgent” by the House Speaker, Manzoor Nadir, as the assembly was gearing up to debate the Human and Tissue Transplant Bill 2021, and Deeds Registry (Amendment) Bill 2021, the Powers of Attorney (Amendment) Bill 2021, the motion for nominees of the National Assembly to serve on two Natural Resource Fund boards and the Gas to Shore Project.
“How was it an across-the-board salary increase?We were elected by the People. We as Members of Parliament were elected by the people [and] we received the 7% salary increase. They were also elected by the people and they are fulltime officers of their respective organisations [so] why is it they cannot receive the 7% salary increase? I hope that the Honourbale Minister with Responsibility for Finance will correct this error and make it right,” Mahipaul said.
