In a press conference on Thursday, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo took aim at Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, accusing him of making empty promises in his New Year’s message.
Jagdeo questioned the credibility of Norton’s pledges, highlighting discrepancies between the promises of the past and the reality during the previous opposition-led government.
Jagdeo highlighted Norton’s statement regarding promises for large wage increases for workers. The Vice President reminded the public that the APNU+AFC’s promises in 2015 were never realized, pointing out that in the five years they were in power, wage increases never exceeded single digits.
In fact, Jagdeo recalled that one year, workers at the lower end of the pay scale received a 10% raise, while those at the higher end only got 1%, resulting in an average increase of just 6-7%.
“We have already surpassed their promises in terms of both percentage and the actual quantum of money,” Jagdeo stated.
He added that public servants are now earning millions more than they did in 2020.
Norton’s New Year’s message also included a pledge to introduce a child allowance, a promise that Jagdeo labeled as hypocritical.
“These are the same people who took away the cash grant,” Jagdeo pointed out.
He went on to explain that the government had already implemented an effective system through tax deductions, where, starting in 2025, parents can claim an extra $10,000 monthly deduction for each child. This initiative, Jagdeo argued, would allow families to pay less in income tax.
In response to Norton’s call for a rent subsidy, Jagdeo expressed confusion.
“I don’t know what his problem is with people owning their own homes,” Jagdeo remarked.
He highlighted the government’s efforts in providing affordable housing, citing the provision of house lots for Guyanese, over 40, 000 allocated in the last four years alone.
Furthermore, Jagdeo dismissed Norton’s promise of free university education as redundant, emphasizing that the government had already made significant strides in this area through scholarships and other initiatives.
He also took issue with Norton’s claim of government overspending, accusing the opposition of promising more spending in the same areas without any viable plans to fund such promises.
“Anybody who believes the PNC and AFC’s promises needs help,” Jagdeo quipped, adding, “Nobody pays serious attention to what they say anymore.”
As Guyana heads into the new year, the political battle lines continue to be drawn, with elections to be held and Jagdeo stressing that the ruling administration has delivered on its promises, while the opposition’s past record leaves much to be desired.
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