AUDIT OFFICE DEPRIVED OF THE $50,000 BONUS

Dec 23, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is with a wounded heart, shattered hopes and a state of deep distress that we pen this letter to you. Kindly allow me the space in your newspaper to bring to the Minister of Finance’s attention an abominable deed that was committed against the employees of the Audit Office of Guyana. It is hoped that this letter attracts the attention of the responsible Minister and swift redress be brought to this issue.
Prior to Minister Jordan’s announcement of the fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) ‘tax-free’ bonus for the holiday, the Auditor General used his discretionary power, in my opinion, and paid the employees of the Audit Office a 2.5% increment, which was fully taxable on their December salary. This 2.5% when taxed worked out to a mere twelve thousand dollars ($12,000) depending on an individual’s salary level. Minister Jordan subsequently announced fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) ‘tax-free’ bonus payable to all Public Servants including semi –autonomous agencies under which the Audit Office of Guyana belongs. Employees of the Audit Office were much delighted with this foregoing only to have their plans for a bright 2016 shattered!
Upon preparation of the new payroll with the tax-free fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), the Ministry of Finance decline approval of the payroll on the ground that the Auditor General had already paid his employees a 2.5% increment. This situation is heartrending. This 2.5% was given to us by the Auditor General for our sterling performance throughout the year. In all fairness, we deserve the $50,000 that is given by the Government of Guyana to all Public Servants. The Audit Office should be included Honourable Minister. It is totally unfair to give the $50,000 tax free bonus to some or most semi-autonomous agencies and exclude the Audit Office completely. It appears as though this is a deliberate attempt to spite the Audit Office and it is rather regrettable that the junior employees are the ones that will bear the brunt of this decision. Majority of the junior employees had actually planned to utilize this tax-free bonus to partly fund their studies in 2016.
I believe that this is a Government of equality not partially. It is unfair to deprive the employees of the Audit Office of this benefit while other semi-autonomous agencies were privileged. What the employees of the Audit Office experienced is like a solid ‘back-hand’ slap to the face complimented with a punch to the nose. It hurt us to the core, Honourable Minister.
Honourable Minister Winston Jordan, please, rescind the decision made by your Ministry and grant the employees of the Audit Office the fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) that you announced would be payable to all Public Servants, including semi-autonomous agencies. I have faith in this Government. I hope that a swift redress to this issue will be brought to our wounded hearts.
Aggrieved State Auditors

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AUDIT OFFICE DEPRIVED OF THE $50,000 BONUS

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