Dear Editor,

I REFER to a headline titled, “Procurement procedures not followed in insurance deal for ministers –Ramsammy”, which appeared in the Kaieteur News, Friday, August 25, 2017, on page 8.

Dr. Leslie Ramsammy is alleged to have said that ministers benefited from a large salary increase of “‘up to 100%”‘ almost immediately upon assuming office in May 2015. This is a blatant falsehood, one of which Kaieteur News is aware; yet, it was printed with not even an Editor’s Note. As all the public knows, the salary of the Prime Minister, Vice Presidents, Senior Ministers, Junior Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly, Leader of the Opposition, and other Members of Parliament were increased by varying percentages – from 5%, in the case of the Prime Minister to 50%, in the cases of Senior Ministers, Speaker of the National Assembly and Leader of the Opposition.

He is also quoted as saying, “They benefited from a further increase in 2016 and 2017 …” Again, Editor, this is another falsehood. Since the salary increase of 2015, none of the categories of Parliamentarians mentioned above have been granted any further salary increases. As such, Ministers and the other categories are receiving the same salary today that they were receiving in September 2015.

Regarding the insurance for ministers, I believe that the Minister of State can speak competently about the process that led to the selection of the present insurer. Suffice it to say, here, that the government is meeting 50 percent of the monthly premiums. The other 50 percent is borne by the insuree.

The move to insure ministers and their families is new to Guyana, but not elsewhere. At least, taxpayers would not have to bear the unconscionable medical expenditure incurred by a significant number of ministers, party and other officials, and other persons in the previous PPP/C administrations.

Regards
Winston Jordan
Minister of Finance