Over 480 City Council workers to receive $40,000 bonus – Mayor

More than 480 workers of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council will receive a $40,000 bonus, Mayor Alfred Mentore has announced.
Addressing the 30-member City Council, Mayor Mentore said that following a review of the municipality’s finances, approval was granted for the payment of the bonus to 483 workers on or before December 31, 2025.
Mayor Mentore explained that the decision was taken to ensure that workers receive financial support during the Christmas season, particularly as discussions on retroactive pay and other cash benefits remain unresolved.
“The number one issue here today is where we stand from a financial standpoint and how we’d like to reward our hard-working officers as well as staff. From my understanding, we have over, or just around, 483 staff members in different departments of this council. Many of those staff members are part of different unions,” he said.
He added, “We’ve approved a $40,000 one-off bonus for every staff member of this Council so that they can have that to use for their Christmas. We ask that this money be paid by December 31, 2025. This is the position we have taken from the Council’s standpoint to address this issue and provide something for staff members, especially when they might not get the cash back this year. They might receive it sometime next year.”
According to the Mayor, the unions requested a one-month salary increase. He said the City Council is considering options that are reasonable and workable but emphasised that a full one-month increase is not feasible at this time. Any retroactive adjustments or future increases would depend on provisions in the national budget, which are not currently before the Council.
In the meantime, Mentore noted that the Council is continuing its practice of providing one-off bonuses to staff, as was done last year. He added that these bonuses are intended to help cushion the impact of the rising cost of living and represent the maximum support the Council can afford under current financial constraints.
Mentore has stated that discussions on percentage-based salary increases for City Council staff will require detailed and substantive conversations with the unions.
He noted that the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), led by Carvil Duncan, has several arbitration matters that the Council will work to resolve. Mentore also highlighted the need to address promotions within the City Constabulary, where several officers have yet to receive advancements.

City constabulary promotions
Meanwhile, M&CC recently conducted on-the-spot promotions within its City Constabulary Department, recognising the long service of its officers.
The promotions were awarded to long-serving members who have demonstrated consistent commitment, discipline, and loyalty in the execution of their duties, contributing significantly to maintaining law, order, and public safety across the city.
Mentore, along with counsellors and senior officers, commended the promoted ranks for their years of service and encouraged them to continue upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. He emphasised that the promotions reflect the Council’s commitment to rewarding hard work and motivating staff within municipal security services.
Meanwhile, Mayor Mentore has also acknowledged ongoing discussions between the M&CC and both the Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union (GLGOU) and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) regarding staff demands for improved compensation.