Dear Editor,

I REALLY appreciate the activism of Lincoln Lewis on issues regarding wages for the workers of Guyana. This man has, for decades, been at the forefront of the struggle for workers’ rights, and justly ought to be recognized, even with a national award.  That said, I must, in principle, professionally but gently disagree with the verdict of the Hon. Minister of Finance, Mr Winston Jordan, that he “has to agree with International Monetary Fund (IMF) on this point”; the point being their suggestion to “moderate the growth of wages”.

The history of Guyana, and of many other developing countries, has shown that nations do not necessarily have to follow the instructions of the IMF, especially when that country is not in a FUND Agreement. Guyana is not in a FUND Agreement.

But to add salt to the wound, in the 2016 Budget, there is an approved allocation of G$6.8 billion under line item 6141 (other employment cost).  This line, formerly called the “revision of wages and salaries”, was, under the PPP, the pot of cash to fund across-the-board salary increases given to employees of budget agencies (public servants, nurses, teachers, and members of the disciplined services) and the cost of any new recruitment into any Central Government budget agency.

So why are we playing “footsie” with the people’s money?
More than one month ago, the National Assembly approved this G$6.8 billion in the 2016 budget for these across-the-board increases, so why the delay?

From my computation, the Coalition Government can -– IMMEDIATELY and with ease — release an eight (8) per cent increase in wages for the workers from this approved budget. So why all the delays?

Yes, it is good economics to back raises in wages with increased productivity, but when a political promise was made on the campaign trail to give the workers a substantial increase, it is the right thing to do: to back up your promise partially and quickly. Every day’s delayed is one day more in not delivering on your promise to the workers.

Whatever value the Lutchman Commission or the Collective Bargaining Process adds to the lives of the workers, those processes have their time to deliver, and that can be months away. The workers should not be made to wait — just like the Ministers could not wait for their increases.

The punishment is real and alive today in Guyana, and those at the bottom of the economic ladder deserve the financial support to take them closer to a living wage and ‘the good life’.

So I am making a personal appeal to His Excellency the President, Brigadier (retd) David Arthur Granger, to please use his full powers to ensure that the people get their justly-deserved payout today. It is provided for, it is legal, it is the right thing to do; and irrespective of what the so-called experts say, they will never feel the pain of that single Afro-Guyanese woman whom I personally interviewed. She works as a police constable and is forced to meet some of her bills by doing legal and illegal side jobs — and I mean illegal side jobs!

In my dialogue with that lady, she burst into tears as she told me that some nights she has to “pick fare” to make ends meet. That is not what we worked so hard for over the years: to have our policewomen “picking fare” to feed, clothe and house their children.

I beg of you, Mr. President, please bring immediate relief to the people at the bottom of the economic ladder. Yes, you can!

Yours sincerely,
SASE SINGH