Addressing the failure of Government and the GPSU to reach agreement on terms of reference of an arbitration tribunal in the dispute over pay increases for public servants, and responding to statements made by Permanent Secretary in the Public Service Ministry, Dr. N.K Gopaul, Mr. Yarde rejected any prospective of compromise.

For most Guyanese, Yarde’s statement came as no surprise, since the union itself and most of its top members, appear to be politically motivated by a desire to create the conditions for confusing issues confronting working people, generally, and public servants, in particular. On the other hand, the perception that the GPSU appears to be a willing instrument to those who crave for political power by any means, is difficult to deny.

The present pay dispute is heading for arbitration following the union’s refusal to accept the Government offer of 3 percent.

It should be noted that Dr. Gopaul had stated at his press conference that the Government recognises that all workers, not Public Servants alone, deserve better wages and while the Government wishes to do so to improve the lot of workers, it is constrained by competing demands from other sectors of the public sector that are equally deserving. The Government claims its offer of 3 percent is based on objective conditions and performance of the economy. This offer, however, as was expected, was stoutly rejected by the GPSU and Mr. Yarde. What figures are to be accepted and whom is to be believed? Neither the GPSU nor Mr. Yarde has provided alternative figures to support their claim that a pay increase of 64 percent is affordable. It is precisely this unwillingness on the part of the GPSU and Mr. Yarde to be objective that makes the situation frightening for the upcoming season of goodwill and peace

It is to be noted that since 1997, politically motivated strikes, protest campaigns and wanton destruction of property in the business community have all contributed significantly to the Government’s inability to raise revenue, and thereby, to make a better offer. Viewed in this context, one gets a better insight into the adverse impact politically motivated violence and economic sabotage has had on the Guyana economy. In the event these sets of circumstances have imposed constraints on our country’s economic performance and one is left with no other choice but to sympathise with the Government’s position.

It is of interest to note that since 1993, public servants have received increases in excess of 550 percent. In other words, the minimum wage for public servants moved from $(G)3,137 in 1992, to $(G)20,045 today, or from $(US)24.90 in 1992 to $US105.78. During the same period inflation was drastically reduced, creating a positive expression in the improvement of wages to workers.

On closer examination, one finds that the last four years reveal that while the rise in inflation was 25 percent, in corresponding terms, the pay increase offered to public servants amounted to 93.22 percent.

While many Guyanese subscribe to the fact that the PPP/C Government has always made genuine efforts to improve the wages of public servants, the experience of those workers under the PNC Government was a ’tale of woes’, from 1980 to 1992.

It is instructive to review their wages performances from 1980 to 1992. In 1980 the monthly minimum wage was $258. 1981 saw the first increase when there was a meager 5-percent increase to $271, where it remained until 1984. In that year public servants negotiated a 32.9 percent increase to $360 per month and in 1985 the new minimum wage rose to $382, a 6.10 percent increase. The figure went to $401 in 1986 representing a 5.00 percent increase. 1987 and 1988 witnessed increases to $567 and $595, respectively. The 1988 wage rate moved to $714 in 1989 and by 1990 it had reached $917. In 1991, the minimum monthly public service wage was $2,546, representing $US20.47 per month.

These figures are indeed revealing. While public service workers were being paid unrealistic wages, the GPSU failed to bring relief to them. It is worthwhile noting that in addition to receiving rock bottom wages, that union failed to promote a culture of public servants providing proper and efficient services to the people of this country.

Today, the delivery of services has improved. Guyanese can demand and are given better service when they seek out government services.

Under the PPP/C government the education budget moved from $1billion dollars in 1992 to $11.8billion today and the budgetary provision for health care moved from $725 million in 1992 to $6billion for the same period.

Other areas of the public sector have not been neglected. Since 1993 the PPP/C Government expended $12.5 billion to expand and improve the supply of potable water. And from a figure of $7million, in 1992, the Army’s capital budget has been increased to $245million, today, while the Police’s capital budget moved from $45million in 1992 to $500million.

Guyanese of all walks of life are proud of these improvements in the public sector and, justifiably recognise that when the aggregate of public expenditure, undertaken by the PPP/C Government over the last 10 years is taken into consideration, their offer is reasonable, and the GPSU and certain individuals should stop playing politics and accept so that public servants could get their pay-out before the Christmas holidays.