PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar has overseen Guyana’s continued development over the last three years and intends to ensure that public servants and other workers benefit from the country’s economic growth.He recently shared his thoughts on the programme ‘At Home with the President’ on some of the benefits that government has put in place to better the lives of workers. He said once his PPP/C party is returned to power, focus will be on bettering the lives of public servants.
The President said the decision to increase the minimum wage has resulted in more disposable income being available, as has the reduction of the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) from 33% to 30%. The income tax threshold has also been increased to $50,000, and this, President Ramotar explained, has been “a major improvement for low income people in particular” and even for those in higher wage brackets.
In addition to the aforementioned direct benefits, there are other indirect benefits that must be recognised, the president said.
These include the provision of free exercise and text books to school-age children, school uniform assistance, hot meals and snacks for students, free health services at government institutions, a comprehensive housing programme with a mortgage relief mechanism which has resulted in younger persons owning their own homes were among those benefits named.
The Head of State pointed out that once the anticipated sectors such as the Information, Communication Technology, and promising oil and gas sectors “come on stream”, the benefits will redound to all Guyanese, particularly workers.
“The possibilities will be big for them, to have better opportunities for jobs and much better opportunities for well-paying jobs”.
It is in anticipation of these sectors expanding that, government has embarked on improving infrastructure such as the construction of roads and bridges.
The Amaila Falls Hydro Power Project, President Ramotar said, will play a major role in attracting investments to Guyana, as it will enable Guyana to have a cheap, reliable and sustainable energy supply.
Government is close to finalising this project which was halted by the actions of the joint parliamentary Opposition, and President Ramotar is confident that Guyana’s economic development will expand even faster, moving Guyana from a middle income status to that of a developed nation.