Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
Dec 01, 2018 Letters
In July 2015, the Central Bank issued a circular stating “the payment of increments based on performance appraisal of staff, will be made effective in 2016 and payment of across the board salary increase by the Government of Guyana will also benefit the staff of the Bank of Guyana”.
However, in 2015, staff received 5% in addition to Government increase of $5000. Subsequently, in 2016 onwards a 2% had been imposed on all staff. It blatantly ignored the circular, which was issued in 2015 to the Bank. The Management of the Central Bank has never communicated to staff the reason(s) why the across the board increase given to public servants would not be paid to us as was intended.
The proposed 2% increase for 2018 will be taxed. This brings us to the point, that we are categorically deemed public servants conveniently.
Mr. Minister of Finance, if we are not public servants then why are we treated like them conveniently? Earlier this year, our half month vacation allowance was taxed for the first time in the history of the Bank. All our directives come from the Ministry of Finance.
Why then are we not allowed to benefit from across the board that Government increases? The Bank staff needs clarification from this government as to why we have been treated unfairly with regards to our increase in salary. It must be noted that the performance appraisal/(ACR) increment is based on a grading system and not all staff members are equally graded fairly by their Supervisor or Director.
This often result in staff members being taken before a review board because of poor grades, which result in meager amounts given as increment especially the janitorial staff, handymen and lower level clerical staff.
It has been years now that the Central Bank has taken a downwards approach to staff. Decisions are made without a general consensus as it relates to staff welfare. Everything is done using a big stick approach and we the staff are fed-up and frustrated.
The staff is being de-motivated by the blatant nepotism showed in the Bank.
Christmas is a time of sharing and joy, but at the Central Bank this year, it will not even have a little decoration in the public area to lift the spirit of staff unless we do it ourselves, because management will not pay to decorate the Bank.
The Central Bank staff is not unionized` and is unfairly treated because numerous benefits were taken away under this Governor and it continues to happen. Staff is afraid to speak out for the fear of victimization.
We would like to have restored our tax-free half-month vacation allowance and let our Board of Directors make the decision on our salary increases and not the Governor making them solely, thereafter informing the Board of Directors.
Further to this, the Governor is appointed Chairman of the Board; therefore, we the staff also feel that decisions are not always made fairly and in the interest of staff, since the very person who is controlling the board has to make decisions and give approvals for improvement and implementation for staff benefits.
It is our hope that this Government will wake up and realise that the Central Bank is not being managed properly and only one class of persons is favoured and benefiting.
We want a change in leadership, new vision, new directions and not backward thinking from people who should not be seated as the head. We want the public to know that the Governor has reached the age of retirement but is still being contractually employed and therefore is reaping and enjoying the cream of the crop whilst his staff is poorly treated, underpaid and staff’s needs and benefits are neglected.
Mr. Editor, if the Government, Minister Jordan and the Governor do not please our staff and treat us with dignity, we the Central Bank staff are prepared to stand in solidarity and protest our rights in the streets of Georgetown, until our needs are adequately and speedily met by the Government to grant our increases, review our salary scale and remove the tax from our vacation allowances.
It’s not that we are not happy for the public servants who will receive their increase but we need to be part of the deal as well…It is not fair for us to have a gloomy Christmas!
Disgruntled Central Bank Staffer
Jan 30, 2025
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