Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has raised concerns over the government’s planned payment of a so-called “double salary” to public workers.
Speaking on Star Radio, Dr. Gonsalves said many people expected a true double salary, but he claims the payment may only be a bonus to certain workers, leaving questions about eligibility for temporary staff, pensioners, and those on public assistance.
Dr. Gonsalves also warned that without clear policies, the move could create confusion and inequality among the nation’s 56,000 workers, and urged that promises made to voters be fully honoured.
During the 2025 general election campaign, the New Democratic Party (NDP) under Dr. Godwin Friday included a package of economic relief measures, with a salary bonus for public servants as a key part of its platform. They pledged that within the first 60 days of an NDP government, public sector workers would receive a bonus payment on their salaries as relief amid high living costs.
Many voters understood this pledge to mean a full “double salary” — essentially an extra month’s pay for all public servants — as part of the relief measures.
However, when the government announced implementation plans in late 2025, it indicated that some workers would receive a “bonus” rather than an outright double salary, with emphasis on those at the lower end of the pay scale.
Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves argues the payment as currently described falls short of the double salary promise made during the campaign, and he has called for clarity and parliamentary approval on who qualifies and how the payout will be implemented.
