$2.1B given to Disciplined Services ranks as Christmas bonus

On the heels of the Government’s recent announcement of a five-year plan for Guyana, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces President Dr Irfaan Ali announced that members of the Disciplined Services will receive a one-month annual bonus, a $2.1 billion injection into their salaries.
President Ali made the announcement on Thursday during the Guyana Defence Force’s Camp Stephenson Christmas luncheon.

“As your Commanding Chief, I am pleased to announce that a one-month tax-free bonus will once again be paid to our discipline forces, placing an additional $2.1 billion of disposable income in the hands of more than 13,000 members of the Disciplined Services,” he said.
The Head of State highlighted the Government’s continued investment in the country’s Disciplined Services, noting that over the past five years, significant measures have been taken to improve compensation, working conditions, and professional development.
He reiterated that the Administration has restored the one-month tax-free bonus, increased salaries, adjusted pay scales upward, accelerated promotions, enhanced working conditions, and expanded training opportunities.
“My Government has consistently recognised the invaluable contribution of the Disciplined Services. The safety of our borders and the protection of our people are the cornerstone of the Guyana we are building today. At the very centre of this are the men and women of our Disciplined Services, whose courage and sacrifice safeguard us,” President Ali said.
He also recalled that in 2020 the bonus was restored and later expanded in 2023 to include civilian employees of the Guyana Defence Force. Over the past five years, more than $6 billion has been placed in the hands of members of the Disciplined Services through these bonuses.
In addition to financial incentives, President Ali encouraged soldiers to pursue education and skills development.
“I have asked the Chief of Defence Staff to ensure every soldier is registered on the Guyana Digital School and pursues Mathematics and English at least at the CSEC level. We are not only preparing you for the protection of this country; we are preparing you to live a life of honour and dignity long after you retire,” he said.
The President also highlighted ongoing training and scholarship initiatives, noting that thousands of service members across the Joint Services are benefiting from the Gold Scholarship Programme and more than 900 other training opportunities.
“We are preparing you, as you serve today, to enjoy the enormous benefits of this economy tomorrow because you deserve it. That is why we are investing in you. I am delighted to join you today at Camp Stephenson for this annual Christmas luncheon,” President Ali said.
Accelerating Guyana’s transformation
The announcement comes one day after Ali detailed his Government’s vision and plans for the next five years, aimed at accelerating Guyana’s transformation and placing citizens at the forefront of development. Speaking from the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, he highlighted measures including cash grants, tax reliefs, salary increases, welfare interventions, and educational opportunities.
Among the initiatives, the President announced a $100,000 cash grant for all Guyanese aged 18 and over, increases to the Because We Care grant, the old-age pension, and public assistance, as well as tax incentives for small businesses, childcare, elderly care, and investments outside the capital.
He also committed to improving wages for workers under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Project, the National Pathway Worker Programme, and Community Service Officers, while abolishing net property tax and increasing the income tax threshold over the next five years.
Other key measures include support for the agriculture sector through diversification and co-investment opportunities, a reduction in duties on double-cab pickup vehicles, and expanded housing initiatives to promote homeownership, including the delivery of 40,000 homes.
President Ali emphasised that these initiatives are designed not only to strengthen the economy but also to empower citizens, build individual and national wealth, and create opportunities across the country.