Dear Editor,
I TAKE the opportunity to compliment the Government of Guyana for ensuring that in the very near future the private sector workers will be granted a reasonable increase. This will assist them in their ability to survive and exist in a dynamic, diverse and troublesome economy. I know that the future looks well for Guyana, with our prosperity and excellent management of our prosperity by the current government of the country.

The government of the day, which is the people’s government; of the people, for the people, by the people, is moving in stealth, goodwill, great intentions and love for the citizens of this country. I wish to applaud our government for being so caring and concerned.

When the seven per cent across the board was approved with the retro from January for the public service workers, there was a hue and a cry, condemnation and mockery in many quarters. Positive people came out to teach and explain certain things as did this writer. They seem to forget that there have been grants for COVID-19, school grants for each student of $19,000 which the opposition of Guyana went to great pains to object to its payment. They said it was a waste of money but our Government of Guyana stood firmly and ensured that every child across Guyana received the grant; from the Coastal Belt, the interior, the riverine areas, the City. All our students were able to enjoy this and support their families; they cushioned the cost of living and difficulties that were brought on by COVID-19. Not forgetting the $25,000 cash grant given to every household in this country. What an amazing government we have! What a truly caring government! I think we can give the Government of Guyana another round of applause.

Then when it came to the Government pensioners receiving $25,000 as a life support, the opposition went to great pains again to object to its payment; they were annoyed; they were boisterous in their objections! But the goodly Government of Guyana went ahead and paid it out to the pensioners. I think ladies and gentlemen, the Government of Guyana needs yet another round of applause. All of this was intended to help provide the cash that could be used to ease the cost of living burdens, and also to create commerce in the economy in order to keep money in circulation. I am no financial or economical specialist, but what I am is a realist!

Now with the minimum wages the government is granting which I applaud and on behalf of my company, Rk’s Guyana Security Services, which is a mass labour employer in this country. I am very concerned about a possible catastrophe that awaits the employer!

Mr. Editor, President of the Republic, Dr. Irfaan Ali; Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo; Prime Minister Mark Phillips; Minister of Finance; and Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney-General. Several years back a situation was created in this country because an increase was made in the middle of the year. The increase was by $40 which seriously affected labour contractors to the government and other contractors, simply because it was done in the middle of the year when contracts were already awarded for the entire year.

If the contracts are awarded and in the middle of a year you increase the rates on the contractors what will happen? This is what happened. At that time, we worked with the new increase for three months and realised that we could not go any further, having tried to negotiate with the government and went public with no response. RK’s Guyana Security Services had to withdraw several major contracts of the Government by providing the proper notice as per contract.

It was not done out of passion or lack of goodwill, it was just going to lead us to bankruptcy since we had already lost millions of dollars for the three months we had tried to carry it over. We were operating at a loss; any company that tendered at that time would be operating at a loss.

So what to do? I had expressed about a year ago that I knew an increase was looming for the private sector, an increase which was needed, an increase that might not be enough and an increase which would drive up inflation and eat away the few dollars that the workers would get.

The Government of Guyana needs to ensure those who have already signed contracts and will sign into the future for tenders that already went out, and are pending and might be awarded, anytime in the month of December and in January and before budget and even those after the budget; the government needs to add a percentage of the increase automatically per hour on security services that have tendered and have been awarded the contract. For example, if it was tendered for $400 an hour and the increase is $30 an hour, then $30 should be added automatically per hour for the tender.

Yours sincerely,
Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan Snr.