By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
City Mayor Alfred Mentore has announced that 483 employees of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will receive a $40,000 one-off bonus, to be paid on or before December 31, 2025.
The announcement was made during the Council’s final statutory meeting of the year, at which Mayor Mentore outlined the decision following a review of the municipality’s financial position. He said the Council agreed that, despite fiscal constraints, it was essential to provide some financial relief to workers amid rising cost-of-living pressures.
According to the Mayor, the bonus mirrors a similar measure implemented last year and reflects the Council’s commitment to supporting its staff within its current means.
The $40,000 payment is intended to help cushion the impact of rising living expenses and provide support to employees as they enter the new year. Mayor Mentore noted that while the Council recognises the financial pressures facing workers, the approved amount represents the maximum level of support the municipality can responsibly afford at this time.
He further explained that the decision followed consultations with the Guyana Labour Union (GLU) and the Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union. During those discussions, unions had requested a one-month salary bonus. However, the Mayor said the Council advised that such a request could not be accommodated under present financial conditions, though it remains open to exploring workable and sustainable options.
Discussions between the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and the unions are expected to continue into the new year, particularly on broader salary and welfare matters affecting municipal workers.
