Dear Editor
I thank the former Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan for establishing a platform to clarify issues for the public regarding the payment of risk allowances to nurses.
I maintain that it was Mr. Jordan who rejected an approval on the 3rd of June, made by the authorised personnel upon the Ministry of Health’s submission as to who fell in the category of a frontline worker. The approval for such a list fell within the remit of the Department of Public Service (as it then was) and the fact of the matter is that no increases in risk allowance and other allowances were considered by the Ministry of Finance for healthcare workers at all for Covid-19.
I therefore maintain my earlier positions that the Guyana Public Service Union did not protest when health care workers lives were in danger then, but seeks to do so now especially when the current Government has without any request or grievances being voiced, provided for frontline workers in the 2020 emergency budget. I further wish to assure the former Finance Minister that I confess I do not have the capacity to spread propaganda to gain cheap political points.
Regards
Sonia Parag
Minister of Public Service
