FORMER Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, had “flatly refused and rejected” requests by the then Department of Public Service for increased allowances for healthcare workers when the Ministry of Finance was sent proposals prior to the change of government in August.

This is according to Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag, who said as much when she addressed the issue of strikes across the country by healthcare workers, during an interview on the National Communications Network (NCN) programme “Insight”.
For approximately two weeks now, public healthcare workers, nurses in particular, have been staging strikes at facilities across the country, including the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); the West Demerara Regional Hospital in Region Three; the Fort Wellington Hospital in Region Five; and the Linden Hospital Complex in Region 10.
The nurses are calling for better pay and risk allowances.

At a recent press conference, a member of the opposition and former Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, claimed that the APNU+AFC administration, through the Ministry of Finance, had been “actively considering” a “substantial $100,000 allowance request from the Ministry of Health” prior to being ousted from Government in August. On Friday, Minister Parag said there is no merit to this claim and it could not be further from the truth.

“For several months now the GPHC and Ministry of Health (MoH) were making several requests through the Department of Public Service to the Ministry of Finance for increases in allowances; the then Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, flatly refused and rejected those requests for increase in allowances,” Parag said.

Parag pointed out that it was with the change of administration that the new administration, without being approached, allocated $150 million to the frontline workers.
“Due to financial constraints this is what we are able to offer now, we are offering $150 million for frontline workers and when the budget has been passed and released, we can disburse the money to the frontline workers so that they can benefit from that,” Parag noted.

POLITICALLY-INSTIGATED
Parag said that she believes the healthcare workers are being politically instigated, given that no action was taken in the past, notwithstanding the union for the healthcare workers, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), having had their requests denied.
“There was no protest action, that is what surprises me so today, because at that time when that was flatly refused, no action was taken whatsoever, no threats were made either. I find it strange that protest action is being brought now by the nurses,” Parag pointed out.

Parag reminded that it has been only just two months since the new administration has taken over government, and in that time measures have been taken to make circumstances better for the healthcare workers across the country, even as the Government tries to find a way to provide for all Guyanese.
“This government is committed to taking care of all Guyanese, in the less than two months; we have tried the best we can with the financial constraints. By the end of five years you will be able to see that all Guyanese will be able to benefit,” Parag noted.

OTHER MEASURES
Parag said she did not know the specifics of how the $150 million will be spread across the workers as that will be handled by the Ministry of Health; however, she noted that aside from the $150 million allocated, there are also a number of other measures targeting citizens, from which the healthcare workers will also benefit.
“Everything in the budget is for the benefit of all Guyanese. We have the $25,000 cash grants per household; the $15,000 cash grant per child. The reduction and reversal of numerous taxes. We have the taxes reduced on water and electricity; this will give relief to them and have monies in their pockets,” the minister said.
On Thursday, GPSU President, Patrick Yarde, threatened countrywide industrial action if front line workers are not adequately remunerated, calling for a “positive response” from the minister by October 6.

Parag noted that, while the law provides for lawful industrial action to be implemented, the law outlines a procedure that has to be followed, and she said that has not been the case with the current ongoing protests and strikes, which does not make them legal.

“These are issues that were not made known to the Public Service Ministry as a grievance. There was no meeting to engage a discussion on that. What I would say on these actions taken is that in the Essential Services Act you have certain procedures which you must invoke to get to this point,” she said.
“The protest action at the moment I deem as being illegal. There are procedures that must be followed. If you are going to go about a strike action, management should be informed. You only have those actions when there is a breakdown, stalemate, the grievances cannot be settled. It is clear what must be followed.”
Also joining Minister Parag for the interview was Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, who also stressed that industrial action follows a procedure.
“Notice is supposed to be given to the ministry. The union is saying that there is an ultimatum that was served January 2019, the notice was given but that is since 2019. Is it still valid?” Ogle questioned.

Minister Parag said she is pleading with the healthcare workers to know that their Government is making considerations on their behalf, and, in time, more will come their way.
“In the next five years the Government will make provisions but protest action is most certainly not the way to go and not the way to make your requests,” she posited.
“Your services are valued, your services are recognised. We are urging all healthcare workers not to be intimidated, not to be lured into action that can be deemed unlawful and act to their detriment. At the end of the five years they will see their lives improve,” she said.