NEWS RELEASE

Government Honours Pay Commitments

Wednesday January 2, 2008, St. George’s: The Government of Grenada has met its commitments to pay allowances owed to Police Officers. The Ministry of Finance today confirmed that Government had paid one million 112 thousand dollars to police officers in back pay owed for 2006. Under an agreement which was negotiated and signed with the Police Union, Government had agreed to pay this back pay by the end of 2007. The salaries of Police Officers were also adjusted in November 2007 to reflect the negotiated and agreed salary increases.

Speaking on this issue today, Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Keith Mitchell said “I am elated that we as a Government were able to honour our commitments. I hope that we can conclude negotiations with other unions representing public workers in the very near future. I know that workers are anxiously awaiting the conclusion of these agreements so that they can benefit. I am also fully aware that with the global rise in cost of living, Governments must be able to do what they can within the context of limited resources, to offer some assistance to workers.”

The Government of Grenada has also been able to pay one million 749 thousand dollars to teachers for 2004 to 2005 incentive allowances and for the 2006 seniority allowance. Government had indicated that it would try to meet these payments by December 31^st 2007 but had cautioned that because of limited resources this may not have been possible.