Budget 2014…President defends no wage increase for public servants

Mar 28, 2014 News

– says hoping for a negotiated settlement

President Donald Ramotar says that the reason there was no increase in wages and salaries for public servants in the 2014 Budget is because he prefers to have a negotiated agreement between government and the unions.
He was at the time speaking to media operatives at Office of the President, and was asked why there were no increases announced, to which he responded that he did not want to be called a dictator.
Ramotar was pointed to the fact that there was no reduction in VAT, no reduction in income tax and no increase in the tax threshold, leading to the ordinary citizens believing that there isn’t anything in the budget for them.
Ramotar responded by saying he is still optimistic that the two parties will get down to negotiations and “I am still hoping we can reach a negotiated settlement…What do you want me to do? Announce for the public servants and then you would come here today to me and say that I am a dictator?”
As regards the fact that for several years now it has been the case that Government has arbitrarily announced increases in wages and salaries, the President said that there are a number of factors that lead to that happening, such as the failure by the parties to negotiate.
According to Ramotar, “I would like to see them sit down at the negotiating table and come up with an agreement.”
Meanwhile, asked to justify the US$4M allocation in the Budget for the establishment of Hospitality Institute, the President said that it was not only about building capacity for the local tourism industry, but also serving as another revenue earner.
He explained that Government is confident that the hospitality school would attract students from the region and further afield to come and train in Guyana.

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