Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton has implored the government to come up with a workable solution to assist Guyanese who are finding it difficult to afford basic necessities.

Contributing to the debate on first-month pay for new public servants last week, the Opposition Leader said the issue of easing the burden off of Guyanese should cut across party lines. He said there must be support from both the Government and the Opposition.

Mr. Norton told the National Assembly that although the Government has boasted that it has removed taxes on a number of food and other basic items, Guyanese are no better off, as costs continue to soar.

“People are worse off today, you can say what you want about what tax you remove, the people of Guyana know, that in 2020 their income was buying more than it can buy now. Let us not run away with all these things about what taxes you remove, the critical issue is, what is the state of the people of Guyana,” Norton questioned.

Norton said the Government must first address the question of a livable wage for Guyanese, adding that it has been a sore issue that the Government does not appear eager to address.

“Cash grants might have their place but if you can do a proper analysis and come up with a minimum livable income and deliver that to public servants we will be in a better position,” the Opposition Leader said.

There have been mounting complaints about the cost of basic food items and necessities in Guyana. 

While the Minister of Finance has said he is monitoring the cost of living situation, the Government has not announced any new measures to address the cost of living issues.

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