Our President and Government ignite more hope and optimism among Health Workers

Here is the bottom line: the total employment cost budget for health care workers in Budget 2022 was $15B. After the eight percent pay increase, the total employment cost in Budget 2022 for the health sector escalated to $22.2B. When the final figures are calculated, the revised cost for 2022 will be in excess of this amount, because the number of health care workers employed has also increased in 2022. With the adjustment of salaries for doctors, nurses and allied health workers, the minimum employment cost for the health sector for 2023 would rise above a minimum of $23.7B. This is because President Ali announced salary adjustments for doctors, nurses and allied health workers.
Budget 2023 employment cost for the health sector would further increase once we take into consideration cost for the increased number of persons being employed in the health sector in 2023, and further annual increases that are almost guaranteed under a PPP Government. This employment cost in the health sector is far more than the total health sector budget for any year before 2018. It is a measure of the improvement in salaries from which health workers have benefitted.
In just some of the workers in one sector, an additional $3B has been added to people’s pockets through the eight percent salary increase and the adjustment of salary scales. This additional flow of money in the communities drives other economic activities and adds to the overall lifting of people’s living standards. While workers across the board would always want more, the health workers have acknowledged that President Irfaan Ali and his PPP Government are doing as much as is possible to improve their condition. They understand that, together with the eight percent increase announced earlier, they have received an early Christmas gift from President Ali and the PPP Government.

But the usual suspects will be out with their
usual nastiness and sour grapes.
Last Monday, President Irfaan Ali announced adjustments of salaries for health workers amounting to more than $1.5B more in the pockets of health workers for 2023. This is in addition to the eight percent increase in salaries announced for 2022. Health workers around the country lauded the President and the PPP Government. Since August 2020, President Irfaan Ali has, in myriad ways, demonstrated commitment to workers. In just over thirty months, the salaries of Public Servants have dramatically changed. Yet, the Government’s policies and action and President Ali’s own style of governance have also created hope and optimism among workers, who now believe that this is only the beginning. There is an optimism among workers, a feeling that dramatic things are in the works. While there is much appreciation, workers have become extremely optimistic that, by 2025, their lot will be significantly better, far more than they could have imagined before August 2020. Each and every day workers find another reason for optimism.
Two weeks ago, the President announced adjustments for salaries for members of the Joint Services. Last week, the Vice President announced increases in salaries for sugar workers, ensuring that sugar workers benefit from the same eight percent increases in Public Servants’ salaries. This week, it was the health workers’ turn. Before long, it would be the turn of the teachers. None of this is unexpected, because the PPP has retained its working-class credentials. The PPP Government has always placed workers at the centre of its development agenda. It is why the PPP has a history of granting a pay increase every single year it has been in Government.
Of course, some will insist that the Government should and could do more. This is natural. But contrast what has happened since August 2020 to what happened soon after the PNC-led, David Granger-led APNU/AFC Government came into power in May 2015. Almost immediately after taking over the Government, the PNC-led APNU/AFC Government increased their own salaries by between 50 and 100%, including allowances and other benefits. They also had the audacity to tell the workers that they must be patient and await their turn. David Granger told the workers he had to ensure he paid his Ministers so they do not become corrupt. But soon after those hefty salary increases for Ministers were given, Guyana experienced some of the most blatant acts of corruption ever. Moses Nagamootoo told the workers they must await their turn. Harmon told the workers that the Government was bankrupt, but still could afford increases in Ministers’ salaries and benefits. Under the PPP, no Minister is benefitting from increases in salaries and benefits that ordinary workers are not benefitting from. Our Government has rejected the George Orwell statement “we are all equal, but some are more equal than others”.
But in the two full years it has been in Government, President Ali’s Administration has provided other benefits. The opportunity to own their own homes is the most aggressive home ownership programme for workers in any Caricom country. Thousands of young professionals in the Public Service are owning their own homes. Every passing day, more young professionals and other Guyanese are finding it easier to own their own homes. At the same time, thousands of scholarships are being given to young professionals. No country in this region, on a per capita basis, has provided more educational and training opportunities for its people. The people of Guyana are at the epicentre of Guyana’s development agenda.