On his administration’s one-year anniversary in office, President Irfaan Ali has pledged salary increases for all public servants this year but he has also urged every Guyanese to trust his Government to improve their lives over the next four years.
“My appeal to public servants, to teachers, is a very simple appeal; trust the Government. By the end of these five years, you will all be better off. Do not be played politically,” he said during a Press Conference on Monday which marked one year since the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was returned to office.
He noted that the aim is to empower public servants by ensuring that they own a house and their children are able to benefit from scholarships. Aside from salary increases, President Ali added that the Government has already invested in the reversal of taxes, the distribution of cash grants and other initiatives to improve the livelihood of Guyanese.
To ensure that persons live and continue to benefit from investments into the people, the President referred to teachers in the public education system.
As preparations get underway to reopen schools and with vaccination already required to enter certain businesses, Dr. Ali urged teachers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“I think Teachers have the greatest responsibility to lead and I am hoping that they provide that leadership and that they get vaccinated. We surely cannot expose the children to unvaccinated,” he said adding that Teachers must understand the importance of vaccination.
The Government is also pursuing the Pfizer vaccine for children 12- 18 years old.
“Once it is available to children, we expect children to take it,” the President said. The immunization programme for this population will begin with the older children.
Currently, vaccines are available for everyone 18 and older.