Latest update September 13th, 2026 10:36 AM
Minister Jordan says salary increase can be unsustainable
Dear Editor,
I refer to Mr. Lincoln Lewis’s letter captioned ‘Finance Minister is bordering on double standards’ (KN, March 20).
In the opening sentence of his salvo, he states erroneously, “Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s position that he is guided by the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) position on the issue of wages and salaries for public sector workers cannot be allowed to go unnoticed.”
For the record, at the press conference, the Finance Minister, Hon. Winston Jordan, was asked whether he agreed with the IMF’s position on wages for public servants. In replying, the Minister said that, as an Economist and Minister of Finance, he shared the IMF’s view, which was contained in the Concluding Statement of the 2016 Article IV Consultation in this particular instance.
He also reminded the reporters that since assuming the office of Finance Minister in 2015, he has cautioned against meeting exaggerated demands for wage increases, as even in good times, such increases can become unsustainable and result in serious short and long term impacts on the economy as well as upset macroeconomic stability.
This observation of the IMF therefore, only echoes the Minister’s view which has been public for many months now. The APNU + AFC Coalition government is committed to the collective bargaining process – one that results in the progressive improvement in the welfare and advancement of public servants. This was reinforced in the 2016 Budget Presentation.
Wanita Huburn
PRO, Ministry of Finance
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