By Jomo Paul
![Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman interacts with members of the media shortly after the press conference. [Jules Gibson Photo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Press.jpg)
This is according to Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman who told reporters at a post Cabinet Press briefing that the wage increases will be pronounced on by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.
Jordan is expected to present the Fiscal Budget for this 2015 in Parliament before the end of August and a draft is expected to be laid before Cabinet in 10 days.
According to Trotman, some members of Cabinet have advocated that “significant” pay hikes be doled out to public servants.
“Some members [of Cabinet] have urged that we give a significant increase to public servants and hopefully the private sector will follow suit,” said Trotman.
He also related that the government is prepared to sit with the business community with the aim of working out incentives that would provide a much needed boost to Guyana’s economy.
Trotman admitted that with respect to the economy “there are some jitters but we do not want to feed into this belief that we are heading into any recession…things are moving; maybe not as fast as one would expect or as some would want.”
He pointed out that these jitters would have commenced prior to the May 11 General and Regional polls but have persisted unto today.
“Of course we had some…rattling from Venezuela which did not necessarily help…but we are not in a bad shape…we would not offer prescription without first hearing from them; where they think things have slowed down and why,” said the Governance Minister.
He said that the government is prepared to offer stimulus package where warranted but will not accept that Guyana is in a recession or anywhere close to that state.
These are sound points. Also if we are not in winner take all mode the PPP should be involved in real consultations on the budget. Given they are not in parliament the government can select who from the PPP they consult with. However the PPP nominating their representatives is OK, except for Jagdeo, Nandlall, or Ramsaran. Wage increases need links to productivity and professionalism. Stimulus should be ramped up spending on environmental clean-up, and drainage and sea defence works. National security requires spending on infrastructure in Essequibo, preferably with a deep partnership with Brazil. Stanley Ming’s 2030 ideas need to be in the discussion.
1. I would have loved for the government to demonstrate it still recognizes the valuable role of the trade union movement and enjoined it as a partner in announcing any pay raise for unionized public workers.
2. I hope that Cabinet tells us, BEFORE the Budget is presented, how much money the government has been able to retrieve from existing accounts and returned to the Consolidated Fund.
3. Who is the new or acting head of NICIL, and what exactly is government going to do with the Marriott, or what steps are being taken to ensure NIS starts drawing down on its forced investment into the Berbice Bridge or what is the financial state of GPL?
4. In the penultimate paragraph, the term is ‘sabre (or saber) rattling’.