Mining union challenges former Govt Ministers to donate half their salaries

COVID-19 outbreak

– in light of example set by other leaders

In light of the paralysis of the State owing to the political situation, the National Mining Workers Union (NMWU) has called on the President and the former Ministers of Government to take a pay cut by donating half their salaries to the COVID fight.

In a statement to the media, NMWU President Sherwyn Downer made this call while referencing the plight of many workers who are unable to work owing to the economic slowdown and COVID-related restrictions.
“[We] call on the President, his Ministers and all State agencies to donate 50 per cent of their salaries to the COVID-19 fight that has so far claimed the lives of 9 Guyanese, punctured the economy and sent businesses into a coma since reaching the shores of Guyana.”
“It is the view of the NMWU that the Government and its agency Heads [should] contribute to this fight by making contributions financially and not just by being in a position or carrying a name or ‘title’ in this fight,” he said.
He noted that in other countries including the United States, Governments have provided direct cash transfers to households to help them cope with the challenges related to COVID. In Guyana, such measures are still in the discussion phase.
“During this season and period of trials and testing, the continued support financially from the USA to COVID-19 fight has not escaped the eyes of all Guyanese at home and in the diaspora. The USA has continued in the darkest of hours in Guyana proven to be a friend of Guyana and all Guyanese.”

“As President of the NMWU, I urge the President and Cabinet and State agency Heads to lead by example,” Downer also stated.
As early as April, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has won praise for her leadership during the pandemic, had announced that she and her Cabinet would take a 20 per cent pay cut to show “leadership and solidarity” with people hit by the coronavirus.
In India, it was announced in April that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Ministers and Members of Parliament would take a 30 per cent pay cut. The amounts saved, according to reports, would go towards fighting the coronavirus. In addition, it would show solidarity with those suffering financially from the lockdowns.
Closer to home, St Lucia had announced since April that Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and his Cabinet Ministers would take a 75 per cent pay cut in order to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
In Guyana, there has been no word on whether the Government would also take a pay cut. The situation is compounded by the fact that the Government has been functioning in caretaker mode since December 2018, when it lost a No-Confidence Motion.
Caretaker mode means that the Government carries out only routine functions and facilitates early elections as soon as possible. In Guyana’s case, that was supposed to be within three months. However, elections were only held on March 2, 2020, a year and three months after the No-Confidence Motion.
One of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change’s (APNU/AFC) earliest acts after entering power in 2015 was to raise their salaries. Cabinet Ministers’ salaries were raised to $10.4 million per year, a 50 per cent increase from what they previously got.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s salary was bumped up to $20.5 million per year. Junior Ministers meanwhile had their salary raised to $8.3 million. In the aftermath of the criticisms, President David Granger said he does not regret granting the increases.