In a majority decision during an extraordinary meeting this morning, the Georgetown City Council approved a 6.5% across the board salary increase for its more than 500 workers. The Council, in a unanimous decision, also agreed to pay its workers a $25,000 one-off bonus for the holiday season.

The Council’s Finance Committee had recommended a 5% salary increase. However, the Guyana Labour Union and the Guyana Local Government Officers Union demanded a 6.5% salary increase for the workers in line with the increase being offered to public servants by the Government. Many of their members had initiated a sit-in, in an attempt to heap pressure on the Council.

When the issue was put to vote by the City Mayor, Alfred Mentore, 17 of the Councillors voted in favor of the 6.5% salary increase while one Councillor voted against it. 

“The 6.5% proposed by the Government and now anointed by this Council, is carried. I must say congratulations and I am happy that our staff would be properly remunerated in the next period, and we as a council would have stood tall to be able to deal with those matters,” the City Mayor said.  

The increase would cost the council approximately $49.2M per annum. However, while the increase is effective January 1, 2023, and would therefore be paid retroactively, the Council agreed to have retroactive payment made incrementally between January and March, 2024.

Prior to that decision, Councillor Jai Narine Singh had moved a motion for the increase to be paid retroactively, and for workers to receive their retroactive payment this month. 

“Given the figures as provided by the treasurer, $49M, by providing those figures I assumed that we would be making the money in the next couple of months, as taxes come in. So, I would like to move a motion that we pay this retroactive, people need money. So, I would like to move a motion that we pay this retroactive from the 1st January, 2023 to our staff and workers, now,” Councillor Singh said. 

However, he was faced with a counter-proposal by Councillor Gregory Fraser, who put forward a motion for the retroactive payment to be made incrementally between January and March as per practice. Councillor Fraser secured the support of the majority of the Council, including the Mayor.  

“In other years, we have always waited until the first quarter. This is nothing new, this is normal. So, by the end of the first quarter, by the end of March, we will look at where we are with our receipts, based on rates and taxes and other moneys, and also, the necessary compromises we would have with Government on a number of matters, we will make an arrangement to pay those persons,” the City Mayor explained. 

It was agreed that as funds become available, the retroactive payments would be made to various categories of workers, with all payments to be completed by March 31, 2024. 

The Council also agreed to pay workers a $25,000 one-off bonus for the holiday season. Payment of the bonus will take place immediately.

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