Latest update April 28th, 2026 12:30 AM
Don’t pay disproportionate increases
Dear Editor,
I refer to the headline in today’s newspapers 33% pay hike to Councillors and eight per cent percentage to workers.
Prior to Monday’s statutory meeting I made it abundantly clear that it would be inappropriate for council to pay a disproportionate increase to Councillors and workers.
It is true that they are only thirty Councillors involved, and in real terms not a large sum. Nevertheless, my concern was the wider principle of equity. The situation at City Hall remains the same over the years.
Failure to get the government to allow us to broaden our revenue base, and also the frustration related to the Council maximizing its revenue collecting potential.
Whatever, this is the situation; we create a bad public image when we fail to pay contractors who we owe millions of dollars, when we cannot function effectively, because we have insufficient funds to purchase basic things such as tools, fuel, paper and some days, even water to drink.
At the statutory meeting the administration failed to provide an answer to the straightforward question – whether an increase highly desirable as it is, would result in a further deterioration of services to the citizens of Georgetown.
I have no doubt that all concerned what with increases granted to public servants, that City Council Workers at all levels expect, and indeed deserve, but as I pointed out at the meeting the Old Latin maxim ex nihilo nihil fit (nothing produces nothing).
It is my hope that the new Minister of local Government will do the decent and proper thing with the support of the President to engage Councillors, the staff and the two unions in meaningful discussions, in order to break this distressing gridlock that is of concern to citizens, who are conscious of the wider picture, that has created conditions in our capital, which are unsatisfactory, but certainly avoidable if the powers that be regard the city as important.
People can no longer be fooled by imperial handouts and micro-management, but desire their duly elected officials to be allowed to deliver, and to create conditions to release the creative energies of all concerned, and our youth in particular who have already demonstrated their willingness to be proactive in their calls of justice and progress.
Hamilton Green J.P.
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.