Dear Editor,
When was the last time Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo visited the marketplaces to meet with real people and understand the frustration that families are facing?
The measures and cash grants that he and those in the PPP/C speak of, are not sustainable. They haven’t had any major impact on the lives of ordinary citizens in this country. Those were “one off payments,” which many people used to pay outstanding bills, provide for their children’s needs, etc. Jagdeo cannot be REAL!
It would have been a good opportunity in Mr. Jagdeo’s ramblings to hear him say to the nation whether a post assessment was done. Thus, I’ll pose the question to him: “Was a post assessment conducted to ascertain whether lives and conditions have changed for the ordinary man, woman and child in many vulnerable communities?”
Mr. Jagdeo has to be aware that the cost of living has increased tremendously by 12%, since the PPPc regime took office in August 2020. The prices for commodities at Bourda market at Friday, December 2, 2022 are as follows:
1. Tray of eggs – $1,400.00
2. Onions- $ 169.00 per pound
3. Garlic- $280.00 per pound
4. Cucumbers- $100.00 for ONE
5. 2 strings of celery- $300.00
6. Pumpkin- $700.00 per cut
7. English Potatoes- $160.00 per pound
It is not only consumable items that have skyrocketed. Clothing, shoes, even the costs in Death and Memorial recordings have gone UP. My personal experience, last year my family paid $5,000.00 for broadcasting a memorial for my late grandmother. Well, the cost after one year now stands at $6,200.00.
Public servants got nothing in 2020. The PPP barely gave them a 7% in 2021, then axed them with taxes. For 2022, the PPP gives them 8% and yes, the axe will work later this month, to be taxed. Is Mr. Jagdeo cognizant that the average public servant who earns a salary at the minimum scale of $74,900.00, when the 8% is applied, his or her salary will be increased by $5,992.00, giving the new minimum salary a figure of $80,892.00. Therefore, the 28% PAYE will now be applied, since the tax threshold still stands at $75,000.00 since 2019 and the regime you are part of has failed to increase the tax threshold for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Simply put with the new salary increase, taxes will be deducted plus the 5.6% of the employees contributions to NIS. I have not included other deductions that are charged to the salaries of public servants, such as mortgage loans, tuition fees, credit union contribution, union dues.
The government is raking in billions from the oil sales, hence the action to plunder and splurge taxpayer’s monies, as they like, without transparency and accountability. Let me remind Mr. Jagdeo of the following categories who benefitted tremendously.
1. Fisherfolk received $150,000.00 each, plus cash grants.
2. Sugar workers $250,000.00 plus increases in wages and salaries, plus cash grants.
3. Private rice farmers received $150,000 each, plus cash grants.
Mr. Jagdeo and the government have treated public servants as though they are not as equal as the categories I have listed above.
Mr. Jagdeo, your government pre-May 2015 was paying the elderly peanuts for “Old Age Pension.” It was the Coalition Government that paid them a reasonable sum between 2015-2019, pensioners received $20,500.00.
Public servants benefited greatly from the Coalition Government. From 2015-2019, they received non-taxable increases in salaries without resources from the oil sector. Also, the minimum wage moved from $39,000.00 to $70,000.00.
Public servants, nurses, teachers and joint services, do not be fooled and fall into the trap of the PPP/C regime. They have done you an injustice.
I end by saying Mr. Jagdeo and team will be enjoying a wonderful Christmas on the backs of the Guyanese taxpayers, while families will be enjoying a bleak Christmas, but they will know how to survive in order to celebrate.
Yours truly,
Annette Ferguson
