PM Browne Assures Public Works Workers They Will Receive Payment Today
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has instructed officials at the Public Works Department to accelerate the processing of outstanding overtime payments after workers complained that some arrears remain unpaid.
The issue surfaced during Browne’s weekly Browne & Browne radio programme over the weekend when a Public Works employee called into the show and complained that workers were still waiting for overtime dating back several months.
The caller, who said she had worked at Public Works for 41 years, described occasions when employees worked into the early hours of the morning but were still waiting to be compensated.
Browne told the caller he would follow up on the matter, explaining that delays sometimes occur because payment vouchers are not prepared in time.
Later in the programme, the Prime Minister said he had received an update from Public Works indicating that overtime payments had been processed up to January 2026.
“I’ve asked them to accelerate the processing of the vouchers in the remaining months so we can bring the overtime up to date,” Browne said.
The overtime issue is separate from concerns involving recently employed workers who had also complained about delays in receiving their first salaries.
Browne acknowledged that some new employees had been waiting approximately two to three months to receive their first pay and said such lengthy delays should not occur.
He said officials at Public Works and the Treasury had been asked to expedite payments.
During another exchange, Browne agreed with a caller that employees should not have to protest in order to receive money they have earned.
“PM Browne, you must address the incompetence at Public Works by either terminating the underperforming staff or withholding their salaries and overtime for three to six months to ensure accountability. As the saying goes, ‘Do not do to others what you would not want done to you.’ Several employees, including supervisors and managers within the Public Works Accounting department, are acting maliciously. It is unacceptable to halt the payroll processing for employees who have rightfully worked and signed off on their vouchers.”
The man have enough on his plate why do all keem making him have to do your job for u as well them they saying he micromanaging
I am absolutely 100% in agreement with Donna. That department from this and previous governments have been plagued with bobolism. PM we need to clean up public works