The Grenada Trades Union Council (GTUC) is appalled that at a time when the Government is calling on severely overburdened workers of the nation to pay a five percent reconstruction levy, it has increased the number of Senior Ministers in the Cabinet.

The appointment of another Senior Minister will cost the taxpayers in excess of Two Thousand dollars per month in salary increaseS inclusive of other allowances.

As a Junior Minister, Senator Pierre received $65,000.00 per year, the new salary is now $90,000.00 per year. If this is a period for sacrifice the Government has not demonstrated same. Any serious Government would not have taken the 4.5% increase that they were demanding that Public Servants forego.

The GTUC is also saddened by the continued misinformation disseminated by the Minister of Finance. His latest misrepresentation of the position of the GTUC was broadcast on the BBC Caribbean Report on (January 5, 2006) stating that the GTUC was supporting a return to Personal Income Tax.

At no time in the meeting with THE Minister for Finance and the Grenada Chamber of Industry of Commerce did the GTUC advocate a return to personal income tax.

The recommendation came from the Chamber and the GTUC’s position remains that its workers cannot pay the five percent levy.
We strongly reiterate that Government can raise the money outside of taxing workers’ income.

The GTUC has suggested an increase of duty on certain items such as private cars, cell phones, alcohol and corporate profits.

The GTUC strongly believes that dialogue between the Government and the Chamber can achieve a consensus, provided that Government acts maturely and subscribe to the will of the people.

The GTUC would like the nation to recall that the Minister for Finance had indicated quite unequivocally that the 5% levy had been considered after the Public Sector Unions insisted on the negotiated 4.5% increase for its union members.

The GTUC believes that the workers of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique do not deserve the punishment that the Government has planned to unleash.