THE new Finance Minister has already put caution in the air on all the promises made by the APNU+AFC during the campaign. Stabroek News (SN) reported that “the new Government is looking to increase public servants’ salaries by 10% in keeping with the APNU+AFC promise in its elections manifesto, according to newly appointed Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who says the administration also has to work on tempering expectations.”

This is a startling revelation from Mr. Jordan with only less than a week since being confirmed in the position. Remember, it was his party on the campaign trail that promised “significant salary increases for Government workers” within the first 100 days in Government, while the PPP/C’s rationed and responsible 5% to 8% annual increases to public servants were ridiculed. The PPP/C had already enforced their increase retroactive to Jan 2014. Will this simply be the normal 2015 Increase?

This all now seems to have just been a ploy to dupe public servants to getting them into office and once that mission was accomplished, resort to the cry of “tempering expectations.” I hope the Public Service Union is paying attention and will speak on this matter. After all, this was the group that took to the streets protesting for a 30% minimum increase in 2014.

Of a most important note also by the Finance Minister is his “Review” of VAT as opposed to the “Immediate Reduction” as promised in the first 100 days.
DR. PETER R. RAMSAROOP