As nurses in Region Three joined nurses in Region in protests in the two regions today over late salaries and the absence of a risk allowance, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony is pleading with the nurses to give his Ministry a little more time.

Dr. Anthony explained today that $150 Million has already been set aside by the Government for payout to frontline health workers. He also said the budget which is still under consideration also includes additional sums that will cover risk allowance for health workers.

“This Government has said that we are going to provide frontline workers with risk allowance, and we have set aside in this year’s budget $150M for that effort and we have to remember that this is going to be from October where we will be providing this risk allowance,” Dr. Anthony told News Source.

The Health Minister promised that future budgets will take a wider look at across the board risk allowances for health workers.

“In future budget, yes, we will have more monies allocated for risk allowance and so the issue of risk allowance, the nurses and other front line workers, would have to give us a few more days because tomorrow we anticipate the passing of the budget and once the budget is passed then we will be able to use the money allocated to provide these risk allowance” Anthony explained. 

Nurses in Linden started their protest action yesterday and it continued today. Nurses from the West Demerara Coast launched their own protest action today, also calling for the risk allowance and on time salaries.

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