Late pay for prison officers, firemen, CANU because of inaccurate filing– Minister Jordan

Finance Minister Winston Jordan has said the delay in payments to members of the Joint Services and other agencies under the Ministry of Public Security is not a result of unavailable finances, but rather the submission of inaccurate information.

The late pay notice was sent by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Security to the Head of Programmes for the Guyana Forensic Laboratory, Guyana Fire Service, the Guyana Prison Service, National Anti-Narcotics Unit, Juvenile Holding Centre, Police Complaints Authority and Customs Anti- Narcotics Unit.

The letter, dated October 22 from the Permanent Secretary, stated that the delay in payment of October salaries was because of “insufficient funds as a result of new appointment. But the Finance Minister, in comments to the Department of Public Information (DPI), contradicts that.

Minister Jordan is quoted as saying the Ministry of Public Security’s payroll was released from the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, October 18.

He explained that the request was received the following day for the transfer of monies but with insufficient information. The added information was then supplied after 17:00 hrs on Friday and a letter for budget approval sent to the Director of Budget on Monday, October 22.

However, attempts to import the payroll on Tuesday, October 23 highlighted several errors resulting from incorrect postings during the year, the Minister said.

According to the Minister, staff worked into the night to correct the detected errors but the ministry of Public Security was unable to assist in the process with necessary explanations despite being provided with tables and demonstrations.

“The result, therefore, was the inability to process the Ministry of Public Security’s payroll to date,” the Minister said.

Minister Jordan has assured that the processing of the payroll will continue today, October 24, 2018, with the staff of the Ministry of Finance working with those of the Ministry of Public Security to rectify all errors and ensure salaries are paid to the joint services.