Govt remains committed to improving lives of working class– Finance Minister

– as Trade Unions engaged in Budget 2024 consultations

Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Friday led a series of budget consultations with several Trade Unions from across the country, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).
The consultations allowed for the Unions to raise and discuss issues of interest, particularly in relation to the National Budget and other matters.
The consultations saw participation from Unions affiliated with both the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) as well as the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).
In his introductory remarks, Prime Minister Phillips indicated that the Government welcomed the opportunity to receive suggestions, comments and other inputs from the Trade Unions on matters of interest and importance in order to inform Government policies in crafting Budget 2024.

He also thanked the Unions for their cooperation and interest in engaging with the Government on behalf of the workers they represent.
Dr Singh, while delivering remarks, reiterated the Government’s commitment to sustained improvements in the lives of the working people of Guyana. He also outlined the various initiatives already implemented by the Government since resuming office and emphasised its commitment to continued engagements with the Unions and other stakeholders as the country navigates this period of rapid transformation.
He also reiterated the Government’s intention of reaching each and every citizen on the ground in a manner that brings Government to the people, and not just making decisions through representative organizations.
“We have increased job opportunities, invested heavily in the macroeconomy and we continue to ensure that we maintain macro-economic stability,” Dr Singh said, while adding that in all of its decisions, the Government always focuses on striking a balance between the immediate needs of today and the needs of tomorrow.
Following the engagements with Trade unions, Dr Singh alluded to President Irfaan Ali’s continued commitment to the Government’s ongoing engagements with the Trade Unions and all other stakeholders.
The Government team also comprised Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira; Public Service Minister, Sonia Parag; Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony; Education Minister, Priya Manickchand; Advisor to the Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford; Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Labour, Delma Nedd and Mae Thomas, respectively; Director General of the Agriculture Ministry, Mandanlall Ramraj and Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine.
Meanwhile, the participating Unions included the Guyana Agricultural & General Workers Union (GAWU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial & Industrial Employees (NAACIE), the Clerical & Commercial Workers Union (CCWU), and Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU), the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) and the General Workers Union (GWU).