…for teachers
Your Eyewitness must admit he was more than a tad taken aback when the GTU appeared to meekly go along with the Govt’s demand during the court-ordered conciliation process that wages and benefits’ discussions couldn’t be retroactive. The GTU wanted to start in 2019 – when the PNC/AFC was in office. But now, seeing their salary and benefits’ demands for 2024 to 2026, he gotta concede it was a very clever ploy: these new demands will cumulatively surpass any gains they would’ve picked up by going back in time!! Talk softly and carry a big stick!!
Plus they’ve seized the moral high ground from the Government, for being REASONABLE in coming off the streets and start bargaining from “scratch”!! The Govt will now look like Scrooge when they oppose the demands – as they gotta do!! The demanded salary increases start at a whopping 39.5% for 2024 – exceeding the historic one the GPSU received back in 1999 after bloody confrontations and then arbitration!! 30% to be added on TOP of that in 2025 and 2026!! So, if an ordinary teacher’s earning the average salary of $116,000 monthly, she’ll be getting $161,000 monthly for 2024; $209,000 monthly for 2025; and $272,000 in 2026!! — which is just about what a doctor makes!!
And that’s just the tip of a humungous iceberg of benefits!! There’s a MONTHLY internet/mobile data allowance of $10,000; a termly school transportation grant of $150,000 (coastland) – which is $450,000 annually; or $300,000 (hinterland/riverine) – $900,000 annually; a monthly honorarium of $15,000 for headteachers/principals to conduct business on behalf of their institutions, and an annual health/risk allowance of $25,000.
Then there’s the annual clothing allowance of $40,000 and a double salary payment in April each year. And that’s not all: there are to be scholarships to UG – which means not having to teach – and then non-taxable monthly credential allowances when they’ve improved their qualifications. Expanded categories of teachers like headmasters etc will continue getting duty-free concessions for vehicle up to 2000cc engine capacity, and also ATVs for the hinterland teachers!!
Now, once upon a time, your Eyewitness was a teacher, so he’s quite sympathetic to their desires. And, in fact, if they get through with their demands, he’s considering going back to moulding those young minds!! But that’s the point, innit? Teachers’ remuneration – like all workers’ – should be tied to their performance. Your Eyewitness understands that, on any given day, one-third of teachers are absent!! Then there’s the kids’ performance – after the aforementioned mind-moulding!! The GTU’s demanding an additional performance-based incentive of 2% per annum: shouldn’t the Government be allowed to make a deduction if a certain percentage of students don’t pass?
Like 60% of the kids at NGSA math!!!
…for Trump
For a party that’s been doing quite well with the economy, thank you – the Democrats are in a greater state of confusion than dear old PNC in our Mudland!! And that ain’t no mean feat!! And it all has to do with their candidate for the upcoming November elections, who’s already been selected after their Primaries – “Sleepy Joe” Biden, as he was called by his opponent Donald “The Crotch Grabber” Trump!! The latter might have to resort to the other nickname he bestowed, Slow Joe, after Biden’s performance in their debate.
We, Guyanese, gotta be wondering how it’s even a QUESTION that Biden should step aside. Can you imagine that, after losing his train of thought during that debate, he followed up with calling the leader of Ukraine – where the US is fighting a proxy war against Russia – PUTIN?? And then following up by calling his OWN Vice President Trump??!!
And he did this at the 70th anniversary of NATO – in the presence of all of the US’ European allies!!
…defamation money
There’s the accusation by an old journalist, Enrico Woolford, that Minister Vikram Bharrat was interrogated by US Federal Agents as he deplaned at JFK Airport.
Surely, he knows US greeters are a routine feature for Cabinet Ministers?
