Budget 2016: Jagdeo wants “huge” salary increases for public servants

Last Updated on Wednesday, 27 January 2016, 16:07 by Denis Chabrol

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has huge expectations of the APNU+AFC administration relative to the 2016 Budget slated for presentation on Friday January 29.

Jagdeo at a press conference on Wednesday read out some of his expectations on what he hopes to see as part of the 2016 Budget.

Those include salary increases and tax reductions.

He said that there should be a huge salary increases since the $50,000 bonus given in December was not an addition to the salary but rather a one of payment.

“We are hoping strongly that there will be…a substantial increase in wages in salaries. The 50,000 has not become part of the base….we have to have a huge salary increase,” said the Opposition Leader.

Jagdeo also wants a better pension package and review of taxes levied against the importation of vehicles. This is something that the APNU+AFC has discussed before and is a part of its elections manifesto.

He also spoke of significant support for the production sectors which stretch across Guyana.

“We expect that there will be significant support for the productive sectors,” he said adding “Any taxes that the government will reduce we will support them on,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo explained that while he wants to see the reduction of electricity and fuel prices, those must not be introduced as budget measures.

“We don’t want the reduction in electricity rates and fuels rates to be part of a budget measure, that cannot be part of a budget measure, that is ongoing,” he said.

The Opposition Leader indicated that the non-reduction of the price of the pump has led to a huge windfall at the Guyana Power and Light and the fuel companies with them raking in millions in additional profits.

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan Thursday morning declined to comment constructively on why fuel prices have not been reduced.