Dr Irfaan Ali has announced that all health care workers will receive a two-week tax-free bonus this year.
He took the opportunity to thank all the workers in the sector for their service to the nation and charged them to stay true to their profession.
“You are doing our country proud…and in keeping with my promise and the Government’s promise of rewarding you for the work that you’ve been doing, I am pleased to say that the Government has taken a decision to grant an across-the-board tax-free two-week bonus salary for every single health care worker, not just doctors or nurses or frontline workers.”
The President said that while the move will require a lot of resources, his Government is asking for the workers to continue doing their best in support of the citizens of the country.
The bonus will see approximately $612m doled out to 9,200 Guyanese health care workers. This complements the seven percent retroactive bonus they received this month.
STAY VIGILANT
The President also appealed to citizens to ensure that they are vaccinated and to follow the necessary health protocols in order to protect themselves from the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.
He said that people should not wait for the fast-spreading variant to reach our shores before adhering to precautionary measures, including vaccination and taking a booster shot.
“For those who are still not vaccinated, I’m asking you to please, please get vaccinated. This reduces the impact of Omicron and other variants, it reduced hospitalisation, and it reduced death.”
The Head of State said that he has taken his booster shot and has done extensive reading on it. He said he has also consulted with medical professionals locally, regionally, and internationally, who are all in support of vaccination and taking the booster shot, as well as observing the necessary health protocols.
