Political parties in ‘big money’ promises to Disciplined Services

Last Updated on Saturday, 23 August 2025, 0:54 by Writer

[divider]

As members of the Joint Services – police, soldiers, prison wardens and firefighters – prepare to vote on Friday, several political parties canvassed their support with loaded cash-based promises if they win the upcoming general and regional elections.

GECOM has already said 10,481 members of the Disciplined Services are eligible to vote on Friday.

Leader and presidential candidate for the main opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Aubrey Norton promised salary increases of 35%, elimination of income tax for all service men and women earning less than GY$400,000 per month, annual one-month bonus and a minimum of GY$100,000 cash transfer in his first year in office.

Should APNU clinch power in next month’s elections, Mr Norton said members of the Joint Services would see expanded bursaries for their children, and there would be priority housing allocation.

The APNU+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC)-led government from 2015 to 2020 had scrapped the one-month bonus on the grounds that the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) administration had used it as a bribe, and that salary increases were better because they would ultimately lead to a higher retirement pension. The bonus was reintroduced with the return of the PPPC to office in 2020.

“It is with a deep sense of respect and gratitude for your service to our country that I am writing to ask for your Vote. Every day, you and your colleagues in the Disciplined Services engage in selfless acts of dedication and courage to protect our safety, uphold the law, protect our territorial integrity, and preserve our freedoms and patrimony,” Mr Norton said in his open letter to the Joint Services.

The APNU presidential candidate said an APNU-led administration would “deliver” training to equip them with the skills needed for employment and life after service. He said there would be merit-based promotions, transparent scholarship opportunities, and constitutional appointments.

President Irfaan Ali’s recent announcement, in a speech to members of the police force, that numerous policemen and policewomen would be promoted drew the ire of the opposition as election campaigning. The Carter Center election observer mission also singled that, among others, as creating an unfair advantage by the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) over its opponents.

In terms of conditions of work, he promised the Disciplined Services that an APNU-led administration would place emphasis on a smarter, more technologically-savvy military, police, and firefighters. Innovative policing tools including drones and smarter patrol vehicles and advanced training, protective gear, and de-escalation skills for safety on the job would also be provided, he added.

“The critical role that Disciplined Services play makes you deserving of the highest level of support,” he said in his letter.

Leader of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Azruddin Mohamed pledged to reduce the cost of house-lots by 40% for all service members of the Disciplined Services, a grant of up to GY$700,000 to help them start their foundations for their houses, significant increases in allowances and reduce income tax from 25 percent to 20 percent. He said each child would receive a GY$100,000 cash grant, and free transportation to and from school. In addition to a scaled salary increase of up to 50 percent and continuation of the year-end bonus, Mr Mohamed said there would be a significant increase in their committed overtime.

He also said that every service member would get a substantial monthly risk allowance, priority access to scholarships for their families, legally guaranteed compensation for injuries, and an increase in death compensation from GY$1 million GY$5 million. He said to assist with the ownership of vehicles, station sergeants would be given duty-free allowance for vehicles of up to 2000 CC, and inspectors would be given duty-free allowance for vehicles up to 2500 CC.

The WIN leader also pledged that maternity leave would increase from three months to four months. “You deserve better, and you will get what you deserve. So as you prepare to vote on Friday, August 22 remember this: together you can build a Guyana where your service is valued, your families are supported, and your future is secure,” he said.

Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Nigel Hughes said in his message to the Disciplined Services that if his party is elected to govern Guyana for the next five years, no member would earn less than GY250,000 monthly and if they fall in the line of duty, their families would receive GY$10 million “not charity, not sympathy; justice.” “You deserve fair promotions, free from politics. You deserve training that matches your courage, scholarships, attachments, real advancement, you deserve respect,” he added.

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday boasted his incumbent party’s achievements in the one-month bonus of GY$2 billion annually, increased salaries, changed salary scales, accelerated promotions, heavy investment in equipment and working conditions and new police stations. Urging the Disciplined Services to “trust us”, he committed to providing better working conditions and increased salaries.