Wednesday, May 28, 2014
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
SALARY increases for the public service are not likely in the new fiscal year, Labour Minister Shane Gibson said yesterday.
Mr Gibson pointed to the long-standing annual deficit and lack of new revenue streams in his explanation over why he felt an increase would not happen in the new fiscal calendar.
However, he added that he had not yet seen the final budget figures.
“I haven’t seen the final figures from the budget yet, but from what I saw in the past,” said Mr Gibson.
“I don’t see it. I’ll have to wait until I see the final figures to see whether or not there’s anything that would cause for an increase in salary which will be very difficult in my estimation at this time.
“We have spoke of introducing some sort of value-added tax, we spoke about taxing the web shop operators, which will now bring in new revenue streams. We’re talking about expanding the economy, we’re talking about creating opportunities. These things don’t happen overnight.
“I think what is commendable over the past two administrations is that even though we have faced significant challenges,” he said, “unlike those other Caribbean islands, who decided to reduce the size of the public service, in the Bahamas that didn’t happen”.
He added: “So you have choices, so we chose to keep all employees employed and to try and see how we can weather the storm, create new opportunities, expand the economy, and increase benefits to workers.”
Prime Minister Perry Christie is expected to give the 2014/2015 Budget Communication in the House of Assembly today.
Outside Cabinet yesterday, Social Services Minister Melanie Griffin said she felt her ministry has managed its allocation in the previous budget “quite well”.
She said: “If we can maintain, then of course we have the ability to address whatever issues may come up.
“We are also moving simultaneously with VAT to put in place the Social Safety Net reform which entails the conditional cash transfer,” she added, “so we expect quite a bit of cost savings because hopefully we will be moving to the debit card. I think we will be able to cut down on much of the leakage, with regard to the food coupons as well. It’s a comprehensive programme.”
Comments
sheeprunner12 says...
QUESTIONS:
Did the government complete the public service audit??????? What were their findings???????? What steps will they take to improve productivity and accountability ???? What are they going to do about all of the salary anomalies and back payments etc??????? What is the future financial implication of the lack of public service pensions plans going forward???????
Posted 28 May 2014, 12:46 p.m. Suggest removal
Thinker says...
So, what you're saying is, that you are doing your very best to collect more money from every citizen to ensure the Government can pay more employees for government services. "Revenue Collections" are TAXES that will primarily come from the average working class citizen and small business.
I wonder what would happen if small businesses could save more money with less tax burdens and more of the middle to lower class could also avoid being unconstitutionally taxed? More jobs available perhaps? More spending perhaps? Naaahhh...that's absurd. Government knows what's best for us! (Extreme sarcasm intended.)
Posted 28 May 2014, 2:57 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Yep........... those same politicians like Shane were willing to suggest that THEY needed a pay hike............... LMAO ......... shameless toads
Posted 28 May 2014, 3:31 p.m. Suggest removal
asiseeit says...
I wonder how many of our public servants are political appointees and exactly what do they do except collect a pay check? Hell I want a government job!
Posted 28 May 2014, 2:57 p.m. Suggest removal
Thinker says...
Yes we should all get Government jobs to ensure we remain Employed and Governed.
Posted 28 May 2014, 3:05 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Dont trash the public service like that............. there are many career professional civil servants .................and maybe another half that are political appointees
Posted 28 May 2014, 3:28 p.m. Suggest removal
Thinker says...
I have my opinion, and you have yours. In my opinion, the reduction of unnecessary government services would enable economic growth via the Free Market. Government employs many a career that we should not be paying for, that I strongly disagree with, which concludes that I am being unjustly stolen from with each tax I am in disaccord with.
Posted 28 May 2014, 4:38 p.m. Suggest removal
Reality_Check says...
GO SHANE GO! SHANE, YOU BETTER THAN ANY PLANTATION MASTER THAT EVER CRACKED A WHIP!! YOU TELL THOSE PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU (THE MASTER OF ALL MASTERS) AIN'T TOO HAPPY WITH THEIR PRODUCTIVITY 'CAUSE YOU AIN'T YET GAT YA NEW MERCEDES S500 WITH A BLUE LICENSE PLATE!!! Jus' keep d'em uncivilized civil servants shackled to indentured servitude for the bidding of the ruling political elite like ya'self until ya absolutely need to throw 'em a token bone come election time.
Posted 28 May 2014, 4:43 p.m. Suggest removal
EasternGate says...
Cut the bullshit! Reduce the public service by a third. Ensure that remaining employees are qualified and productive. Raise their pay and workload, and make them contribute to a pension plan. Only problem with that is the whole third let go would be PLP.
Posted 28 May 2014, 5:14 p.m. Suggest removal
sheeprunner12 says...
Post-1967 political culture has dictated that we have a large civil service that is "loyal" to the ruling party and a source of guaranteed votes at election time. This has been abused for 40 years and even Hubert Ingraham couldnt crack that nut that Pindling had cultivated......... the PLP will not change this culture ............ they created it for their advantage!!!!!!!!!!!
However, it is a millstone around the neck of The Bahamas. If it is not reformed, the country is in deep trouble. A 30% cut is practical but NOT politically correct............. not in this term at least
Posted 28 May 2014, 8:23 p.m. Suggest removal
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Posted 29 May 2014, 3:26 a.m. Suggest removal
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