Chairpersons, Overseers, Mayors, and Deputy Mayors have been excluded from stipend increases by the Government of Guyana since 2020. This is according to New Amsterdam Deputy Mayor, Kirk Fraser.
In an interview with Village Voice News, Fraser said the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration’s failure to increase stipends for Local Democratic Organs stems from the party’s historical disregard for local governance during its previous 23 years in office.
“The PPP/C has neglected local leaders. Can you imagine—not one Local Government Election was held in 23 years?” he said.
Fraser pointed out that there are 19 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) across Region Six, with only one under the leadership of the APNU+AFC.
He further noted, “During the period 2020 to 2025, the PPP/C government increased public servants’ salaries yearly, granted raises to teachers, and raised the tax threshold, but refused to increase the stipend for those serving in local democracy.”
The Deputy Mayor explained that the revival of local democracy began under the APNU+AFC government in 2016. According to him, the process was sparked by a letter sent from an NDC on the East Bank of Demerara. That letter led to a meeting in Berbice with representatives from various NDCs, along with Overseers, Mayors, and Deputy Mayors.
Frazer noted that former President David Granger later visited Local Government Organs, which led to the hosting of the 2016 Local Government Elections.
He added that key issues such as management, training, and stipends were discussed, eventually resulting in a general conference held by the Granger-led administration, called the National Conference of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDO).
Fraser said that although training and management sessions were being conducted at the NCLDO conferences, the PPP/C instructed its members not to attend. Nevertheless, many representatives from Berbice ignored those directives and participated.
Out of those meetings, a stipend was introduced for the heads of Local Democratic Organs, while councillors on the NDCs were paid a stipend from their respective councils’ coffers.
The Deputy Mayor reiterated that since former President Granger left office (August 1, 2020), the PPP/C has refused all calls to increase the stipend for the heads of Local Democratic Organs.
