Former Prime Minister and Mayor Hamilton Green wrote to President Irfaan in September, bringing to attention the plight of public sector workers and the impact of escalating cost of living on their standard of living. To date the president has not responded.
In Green’s letter, seen below, the president’s attention was drawn to the paltry sum paid to public sector employees, in an economy said to be among the world’s fastest growing, and entreaty made to pay more.
“The revelation that we are the fastest growing economy in the region, exacerbates this hurt and pain. I am referring to Public Sector employees, whose take-home pay is less than one hundred and twenty thousand ($120,000) a month and I recommend that their salaries/wages be doubled immediately, of course, the necessary adjustments for those earning more to avoid disparities and bunching.”
The former mayor told the president whilst “handouts are all welcome and I believe, done in good faith by you and your administration, save to say that we must avoid the tincture of paternalism, a creeping perception across our society.”
It was brought to the president’s attention that workers are paying more to purchase less and the challenges they face with high cost of living vis à vis stagnant wages. The list below was presented for his attention:-
“At the beginning of this year
SUGAR: Sugar was between 70 and 80 dollars per pound. Today between 150 and 200 dollars per pound.
RICE: A Karibee 3 gals sack of rice was $ 1,360 and hovered to $2,000.00 dollars
FLOUR: 1kg flour was $220.00 and hovered to $300.00 dollars
MILK: The popular brand among the masses NATURA was $440.00 a pack, it hovered to $700.00 a pack
EGGS: This was 700.00 dollars a tray, it hovered to 1680 a tray.
BEEF: This was $ 440 per pound but hovered to $900.00 per pound
CHICKEN: This was $280.00 and now hovered to $500.00 per pound
OIL: A small bottle of cooking oil was $360,00 and hovered to $700.00 dollars.
Fresh fish has doubled, depending on the area.”
Drawing attention to widespread concern about the treatment of public sector workers, Green told Ali “in a discussion a few weeks ago, with a top and long standing activist of the PPP, that individual said to me, that they agreed with many of my contentions and messages, but the problem, they are certain was the messenger.”
The failure of the President to respond to Green, who not only served among the highest levels in government, but is an elder and member of society, could lead to conclusion, indeed, the issue is “the messenger,” including public sector employees and their union leaders.
The full letter follows: –
September 26, 2022
Hon. Dr. Irfaan Ali
His Excellency the President
Of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Office of the President
Shiv Chanderpaul Drive
South Road, Georgetown.
This letter is sent to you with great respect and acknowledges your position as Head of State of our country, and as such I expect you to act swiftly on the matter as set out below.
I have over the past few days shared views with Public Servants and in some way Excellency, those at the lower level are hurting.
The revelation that we are the fastest growing economy in the region, exacerbates this hurt and pain.
I am referring to Public Sector employees, whose take-home pay is less than one hundred and twenty thousand ($120,000) a month and I recommend that their salaries/wages be doubled immediately, of course, the necessary adjustments for those earning more to avoid disparities and bunching.
Here I refer to the Constabulary ranks, Policemen, Soldiers, Firemen, Clerks, Teachers, Office Assistants, Chauffeurs, Cleaners, Nurses and other workers in the public institutions, etc.
Mr. President, with the increase of revenues from our natural resources, these salaries/wages increases are possible.
Citizens welcome the building of roads, schools, bridges and cash grants, etc. However, laudable and necessary, these are not bringing relief to those at the lowest rung of the ladder.
Handouts are all welcome and I believe, done in good faith by you and your administration., save to say that we must avoid the tincture of paternalism, a creeping perception across our society.
Mr. President, Public Sector employees, from the professional to the so-called unskilled, constitute the foundation of the edifice upon which a Government rests and may I add, relies upon. As such, we ought not to ignore the plight and daily stress of those operating at the lower level of our public sector.
A recent examination done by a small group revealed the prices fluctuate from marketplace to marketplace, however these samples are revealing and require action.
At the beginning of this year
SUGAR: Sugar was between 70 and 80 dollars per pound. Today between 150 and 200 dollars per pound.
RICE: A Karibee 3 gals sack of rice was $ 1,360 and hovered to $2,000.00 dollars
FLOUR: 1kg flour was $220.00 and hovered to $300.00 dollars
MILK: The popular brand among the masses NATURA was $440.00 a pack, it hovered to $700.00 a pack
EGGS: This was 700.00 dollars a tray, it hovered to 1680 a tray.
BEEF: This was $ 440 per pound but hovered to $900.00 per pound
CHICKEN: This was $280.00 and now hovered to $500.00 per pound
OIL: A small bottle of cooking oil was $360,00 and hovered to $700.00 dollars.
Fresh fish has doubled, depending on the area.
This means Excellency, that person whose take-home pay is under one hundred and twenty thousand ($120,000) dollars per month cannot provide a balanced diet for the family, which of course has its deleterious effect on the family and in particular, the ability of some of our youngsters to perform at their optimum at home and abroad, not being able to release their full physical and mental potential.
A survey also reveals an increase of transportation cost for children and adults.
In a conversation, I tried to reprimand a parent for spending money on bus and taxi fares, reminding them that I used a bicycle from Charlestown to Queens College (Brickdam), four times a day. They said that apart from traffic in the main urban areas, there were gangs who would snatch bicycles away and even injure the school child.
Further utensils brought in by some merchants don’t last as long as they did in earlier times.
The consequences of these are obvious.
Excellency, this situation is exacerbated by complaints from parents, that there is a regular request for monetary contributions as a majority of our primary and secondary schools seek donations for fans and other items, which earlier were provided by Central Government.
The other negative effect of the above is that as one NCO told me recently, they must either rely on taking bribes and other corrupt practices or as is happening, leave the Government service to do other ‘things’ – some unmentionable.
These are hard facts, which are already tearing asunder the slim fabric of our society.
Excellency, I repeat, this is not a matter to be ignored nor to be postponed. We must act so that those ordinary men and women could at least feel that the President and Head of Government can show some compassion by recognizing their severe daily challenges.
May I add this caveat, in a discussion a few weeks ago, with a top and long standing activist of the PPP, that individual said to me, that they agreed with many of my contentions and messages, but the problem, they are certain was the messenger.
Excellency, if this is a present thinking, I urge you to rise above this pettiness, so that the ordinary Public Sector employees can be relieved of the heavy burden they now face.
You and if you allow me, we owe it to those to who were brought here into slavery and those who came as Indentured Labourers, to recognize the absurdity of paying a high price for sugar, the product where our ancestors with varying degrees gave their blood, sweat and tears on the plantations to produce this commodity sugar.
Acknowledging this aspect of our history, with regard to sugar, recall an earlier administration took the bold and patriotic step and kept the price of sugar at two (2) pounds for thirteen (13) cents, in vindication of the suffering and humiliation of our Great Great Grandparents on the plantations, as was so well articulated in a recent letter published on Friday, September 23, Kaieteur News by Baytoram Ramharack, where he dealt beautifully and accurately with the contribution to sugar by the groups who first arrived here in two ships in 1838.
Your legacy Excellency, now that it is financially possible, vindicates the tears, suffering and humiliation of all of our noble ancestors.
With kind regards and the highest of considerations.
Your humble servant and patriot,
……………………………………………………………….
Hamilton Green
