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President Ali announces 10 per cent retroactive pay increase for public servants

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Guyana, December 12, 2024 – President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announced a 10 per cent retroactive salary increase for all public servants this year. The president also announced an 8 per cent increase for 2025.  This is part of a two-year agreement to be formalised between the Government and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).

Speaking at the Guyana Police Force’s Christmas breakfast at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary, on Tuesday, President Ali stated, “This 10 per cent increase in salary which is retroactive from January 1, 2024, will amount to 35 per cent cumulative salary increase over the last four years.”

He explained, “So, we have signed a two-year agreement which is 10 per cent this year and 8 per cent next year. This will take that cumulative salary increase much higher.”

In addition, effective January 1 2025, the government will be introducing qualifications allowances for persons who would have furthered their studies while working.

Holders of an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) will receive an additional $15,000 allowance monthly, while holders of a Master’s Degree will get an additional $22,000 and holders of a Doctoral Degree will receive $32,000.

“This is in keeping with our commitment of incentivising education, incentivising training and the development of our human capital,” President Ali affirmed.

Additionally, the agreement will also include a $5,000 annual increase in uniform allowances for eligible health workers and a $10,000 increase for public servants, representing a 7 per cent rise in this allowance.

Public servants seconded or transferred to hinterland locations will also receive a monthly housing allowance of $35,000, effective from January 1, 2025, while those serving in hinterland and riverine communities will receive a station allowance of $8,000 monthly, reflecting a 300 per cent increase.

Additionally, President Ali announced a 50 per cent increase in risk allowances and a 104% increase in motor car and travel allowances.

He further disclosed the allocation of 100 duty-free concessions annually. He prioritised staff nurses and higher-ranking personnel with longer years of service and those who have never previously benefited from such concessions.

“This would ensure that the criteria of those who are granted a duty-free also serve time in three or five years, so it also a retention for our nurses,” he added.

Public servants on the General Schedule (GS) grades 1 to 6, with a minimum of four years of service within their current scale, will be moved to the mid-point of that scale. This adjustment will result in an increase of up to 13 per cent for some public servants.

Public servants of a minimum of scale 7 to 8 upon attaining four years in the current scale will be paid an additional amount of 11 per cent for some public servants.

The continuous awarding of free scholarships will continue to benefit public servants to elevate their livelihoods.

“As you see from this announcement, this government’s commitment to every category of people in our country is unquestionable. Our commitment to what we said in the manifesto is not only unquestionable but we have surpassed in every single instance,” President Ali highlighted.

The announcement is part of a series of measures introduced by the PPP/C Government since August 2020 to enhance disposable incomes for Guyanese. These measures include a 7% across-the-board increase in 2021, an 8% retroactive increase in 2022, and a 6.5% increase in 2023.

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Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

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MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.

Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.

She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.

According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.

The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.

More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

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CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.

Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed at building stronger resilience to future disasters.

The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.

Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.

By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.

Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

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Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

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