In addition to 7% increase: Joint Services to get one-month tax-free bonus

President Irfaan Ali Wednesday announced a one-month tax-free salary for all members of the Joint Services. This is in addition to a seven per cent salary increase announced earlier in December and paid along with this month’s salary.

The pay-out is expected before the end of the year. Last year the Joint Services received a two-week tax-free bonus from the government.

Dr. Ali was at the time attending the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) annual Christmas Lunch at Base Camp Ayanganna on Wednesday when he made the announcement.

President Ali is joined by the National Security Advisor, Captain Gerry Gouveia; Chief of Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Godfrey Bess; Police Commissioner (ag) Nigel Hoppie and other senior members of the Joint Services.

No other details, including the total sum of this pay-out to the Joint Services or the number of people to benefit, were immediately known. The announcement was communicated via the Office of the President’s (OP) Facebook page.

On Tuesday, Dr. Ali also announced that all health sector employees employed in the public sector will receive a two-week tax-free bonus by Christmas Day.

That pay-out amounts to some $612 million in total and will benefit some 9,200 employees.

This is in addition to the earlier announced across-the-board seven per cent increase for central government employees which will be paid along with their December salaries which placed $10.5 billion in the hands of 50,000 public servants, teachers and members of the Disciplined Services.