Members of the Guyana Defence Force will be getting two-weeks of their monthly salary as a bonus. The bonus will be tax free.

President Irfaan Ali made the announcement on Friday as he visited the GDF base at Kaikan in Region Seven.

“Even with the difficulties of the pandemic, the slope of the recovery expenditure, the reorganising of the budget to facilitate resources to mitigate issues surrounding the pandemic…we are still going to deliver to our men and women in uniform. I have asked to be included in your next pay slip, two weeks of tax-free bonus for all of our men and women in uniform.”

According to the President’s Office, Mr. Ali has assured soldiers that the bonus which will come in their next salary is the first of many such opportunities on the horizon for them.

 ” This is the start of many opportunities that will come your way….I assure you that we are not only concentrating on a bag of goodies at Christmas time, but we are concentrating on lifetime change, lifetime opportunities. And I assure you that during my tenure in office, your life and your family’s lives will be better and you will be better equipped for the future.”

The President announced that in 2021, the Government will be making 20,000 scholarships available for online studies and the initiative will provide an equal opportunity at learning for those in far-flung communities and others in the city and towns. He said soldiers should take advantage of the initiative when it is rolled out.

“Importantly, many of these diplomas, degrees and certificates will be achieved through distance or online training… And I assure you all in this location; our health workers, our teachers that these opportunities will meet you and you will be able to achieve your educational goals even in these locations, even with the difficulties of the pandemic.”

President Ali encouraged the members of the military to look to the future with optimism and continue to be committed to the country.

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