Some 300 educators from across the country will be granted duty-free concessions as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed between the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Education Ministry.
Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon, made this disclosure during a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday. He announced that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) had requested Government’s consent for approval to the duty-free waivers for educators.
GTU President Mark Lyte and General Secretary Coretta Mc Donald
As such, it was deliberated and the decision was taken for concessions to be granted on vehicles up to 1800cc, boats with outboard engines up to 75 horsepower and all-terrain vehicles (ATV) for the hinterland communities.
Harmon stated, “The Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority had requested Cabinet’s consent for the approval of the concessions. The approval caters for the granting of duty-free concessions on motor vehicles up to 1800cc engine capacity, outboard engines up to 75 horsepower for persons in the riverine areas and ATVs for persons in the hinterland.”
The education officials who stand to benefit are principals and deputy principals of Grades A and B schools; and headteachers of Grades C, D and E schools after three consecutive years of their appointment and within three years before retirement.
Educators can now benefit from duty-free concessions
All senior educators, lecturers and heads of department of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and technical institutions are also eligible, having served six consecutive years in the same position after their appointment.
However, the Director General sought to point out that one of the eligibility requirement mandates that a person must be a member of the GTU for no less than three years.
“All of these persons must be members of the Guyana Teachers Union for no less than three years and have at least three years remaining before retirement.”
The regional make-up of the 300 persons include one person from Region One (Barima-Waini), 24 from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), 58 from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), 41 from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), 18 from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), 48 from Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), seven from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), two from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), three from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 11 from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
For Georgetown, 78 persons are said to benefit from the concessions and nine from the CPCE and the Guyana Technical Institute.
Initially, the Memorandum of Understanding covered the years 2016 to 2018. The GTU’s initial request was 200 concessions annually but this was reduced by 50 per cent after Cabinet deliberations.
In the recent time, Government’s relationship with the Union took a turn after teachers staged a countrywide protest for salary increases and their debunching monies.
After days of protesting on the streets and even calling for the removal of the Education Minister, Government bowed to the pressure of having classrooms without teachers.
It was only on October 24, 2018, that the GTU signed an agreement with the Education Ministry to accept a 12 per cent increase in salaries for 2016 and an eight per cent increase for 2018.
According to the agreement, for the year 2016, teachers who earn below $100,000 per month will benefit from a 12 per cent increase while teachers who earn $100,000 and over monthly will gain an eight per cent increase.
For the year 2017, teachers who earn below $100,000 per month will get an eight per cent increase and those who earn above this amount will receive a six per cent increase.
Meanwhile, for 2018, there will be an across the board eight per cent increase for all teachers.
