Despite the fact that the Caribbean Court of Justice upheld the passage of a No-Confidence Motion against the coalition Government triggering early elections, the Finance Ministry is moving ahead with preparations of the 2020 National Budget.
At an engagement with the media on Monday, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said negotiations have already begun for salary increases for teachers and other public servants.
“They can look forward again this year, to a salary increase. We’re already in negotiations with the teachers. The President has set up a high-level committee on the public service, to look into issues, particularly the wages and allowances of public servants.
“So, we are hoping that can be concluded in time for the figures to get into the next budget,” the Minister said at the Ministry of Finance’s boardroom.
He further noted that “Our people can look forward to improved benefits, whether they be in the social sector or educational sector, and at the personal level as we go into 2020.”
The Minister noted that the 2020 budget is scheduled for presentation before the National Assembly by the end of November.
His comment came days before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) delivers the consequential orders of its June 18 ruling which validated the passage of a No-Confidence motion against the Government in December.
The CCJ will deliver those orders on Friday which will necessitate early elections.
Elections were initially due by March 22 – three months after the passage of the motion – but several court cases challenging the validity of the motion led to a delay.
In its submissions to the CCJ, the Government is asking that the court allows President David Granger and the Guyana Elections Commission to set a date for elections.
Last year Jordan presented a $300.7 Billion Budget for the year 2019, an increase of 12.6 per cent from 2018.
Minister Jordan said his Government is pleased with what it has done for Guyanese over the past four years.
“We are proud of our record of all-round development, given the limitation of the resources. We are proud of our human resource development,” the Minister said as he noted that over 1,500 scholarships were awarded by the APNU+AFC Government.
