Shameful 8% increase comes with the added insult of taxes

Dec 02, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kindly permit me a very small piece of your column to vent my frustration on the matter of the retroactive salary increase that was thrown at the public servants of this country. I, along with many others, am sure, expected more, but I came to the realization that it is still an increase, and I must accept and bless. The frustrated part of all this, is I learned from my employer today that the retroactive payment will be taxable. I have been browsing various social media platforms since the announcement, and I noticed a few Government ministers justifying this increase. Most reactions from those posts attracted a high level of criticism while some people simply chose to ask if the retroactive payment (what we call retro) will be taxed, and to date, there has not been a response from any government minister or the President. I think it is very shameful of already hurting us with an announcement of 8 percent increase and then having us paying tax on it too.

Yours respectfully,

R. Persaud