THE PPP/C administration has recently injected another $5 billion by way of income supplements. Among the categories that will benefit from this massive cash injection are public sector employees, pensioners, persons with disabilities, sugar workers and rice farmers.

In addition, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has also announced salary increases for certain categories of senior teachers who will also benefit from duty-free concessions on motor vehicles.
These benefits and concessions, as pointed out by Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, are separate and apart from across-the-board salary increases to public sector employees which will be announced later. The salary increases will be made retroactive which will be both timely and beneficial as we approach the festive season of Christmas and New Year when the urge to spend is usually more pronounced.

These salary adjustments to teachers comes in the wake of significant salary adjustments to healthcare workers and members of the disciplined forces which resulted in an additional $3 billion annually in the hands of these categories of workers.

This injection of salary cash and income supplements are intended to benefit the working people and disadvantaged groups in the country in keeping with the pro working-class orientation of the PPP/C administration. In other words, the main focus of these interventions is to provide a financial lift to those at the bottom of the income ladder in keeping with the norms of economic and social justice embraced by the PPP/C administration.

One immediate consequence of such massive financial injections is that it increases the disposable income of ordinary people who invariably will utilise the increased income on the purchase of consumer goods and services which will in turn have a multiplier effect on the economy as a whole. The benefits of increased spending will have a beneficial impact also on the business community in terms of higher sales turnover and profits.

Not surprisingly, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has lauded the recent announcement by President Ali to grant increases to the nation’s workers by way of significant adjustments to salary scales, allowances and bonuses which will benefit roughly 67,000 public sector employees.

As noted by the Private Sector Commission, the increase in disposable income is a positive development for the economy, and the measures to be implemented for teachers reflect a commitment to recognise and value the contributions of educators to our nation’s progress.

According to the Commission in a media release, “the one-off payment bonus for pensioners, community enhancement workers and persons with disabilities demonstrates an inclusive approach, acknowledging the diverse roles that individuals play in the sustenance and development of our society. The Private Sector Commission applauds the government’s efforts to ensure a fair distribution of benefits to foster social and economic equity.”

Despite the massive benefits these interventions will bring about in the lives and well-being of the Guyanese people, there are some opposition elements who seek, as it were, to throw cold water on the government’s pro working-class interventions.

Only recently, the Public Service Minister Sonia Parag had cause to respond to a Stabroek article captioned ‘Workers in Guyana deserve better pay’ in which it made references to statements attributable to former APNU+AFC Parliamentarian Carl Greenidge and current Parliamentarian Coretta McDonald, both of whom seem critical of the PPP/Cs administration policies to create a level playing field in terms of income distribution to the working people and in the delivery of promises made.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, these allegations are not only absurd but also misleading when seen against the multiplicity of interventions made by the current PPP/C administration to provide opportunities for Guyanese to advance their educational status and benefit from higher-paying jobs and as a consequence, enhanced earnings.

President Ali and the PPP/C administration is doing a commendable job in terms of ensuring that our national patrimony is shared in a manner in which all Guyanese regardless of race, religion, creed or political affiliation benefit in a fair and equitable manner consistent with the ‘One Guyana’ vision as articulated by President Ali.