Aubrey Norton, the leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), has urged the government of Guyana to implement a 25% salary increase for public servants in light of the country’s growing oil and gas production. During a press conference held on Friday, Norton asserted that the projected growth in the sector justifies a significant pay raise for those serving in the public sector.
Norton emphasized that while a 25% increase is a reasonable request, he believes even a 50% raise could be attainable. He highlighted the critical need to improve the purchasing power of Guyanese citizens, particularly public servants who have faced stagnating wages amid rising costs of living. “We do not support across-the-board salary increases as it does not target those in real need and only widens the gap between rich and poor,” he explained.
He drew attention to the stark contrast in earnings between government officials and minimum wage workers. Norton pointed out that the President earns approximately G$34.8 million annually—around G$2.9 million per month—while ministers, including the Leader of the Opposition, take home about G$21.6 million a year, or approximately G$1.8 million monthly. In comparison, a minimum wage public servant earns only G$100,000 per month, totaling G$1.2 million annually.
“This comparison reveals a significant gap between the earnings of the government elite and those at the bottom of the wage scale,” Norton stated. “Public servants and workers across both formal and informal sectors have been adversely affected by stagnating wages and rising living costs, while national wealth continues to expand.”
The PNC/R leader urged the administration to allocate a more substantial portion of the nation’s burgeoning oil revenues to public servants. He referenced government projections indicating that total revenues could reach G$1,024.5 billion in 2025, representing a 30.5% increase over the previous year. Yet workers are currently offered a mere 8% salary increase in 2025, which Norton described as “ridiculously low.”
Pointing to the substantial profits reported by private oil companies operating in Guyana, he argued that citizens expect the government to equitably share these revenues to enhance public sector wages. Norton articulated five key reasons for the proposed 25% increase, emphasizing that many public servants have experienced real earnings decline due to inflation, that higher wages would stimulate local businesses, and that competitive pay is essential for retaining skilled staff in the growing public sector.
He estimated that a uniform 25% increase would raise the annual wage bill in the public sector from G$227 billion to approximately G$283.75 billion, a figure he deemed affordable. Despite recognizing the volatility in the oil market, Norton asserted that the proposed pay raises could be sustainable if managed correctly.
In closing, he reiterated the PNC/R’s stance on the importance of developing the non-oil sector with revenue generated from the petroleum industry: “Some amount of resources from oil should go to funding public servants, ensuring a balanced approach that fosters growth in both the oil and non-oil sectors.”
