The government is aiming to complete long-outstanding upgrade payments to teachers by the end of this week, as it continues the phased distribution of retroactive pay to public servants.

Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said the Treasury is prioritising the payments, with a target of completing disbursements by Thursday once final checks are completed.

“These payments are being prioritised, with the Treasury aiming to issue the outstanding sums by the end of today, Thursday,” Merchant said during Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing.

The update comes amid the final phase of retroactive payments covering the period January to December 2023, which are being processed in stages across government departments.

Merchant said more than EC$4.6 million has already been disbursed, with additional payments still in progress as ministries verify final amounts.

“To date, several government departments have already received payments… with total disbursements exceeding 4.6 million dollars,” he said.

He noted that the current round is not a new payout but is intended to settle outstanding balances owed to public servants who did not receive their full entitlements during earlier phases.

“Some persons were owed a balance… and so now the Treasury is working on giving those persons… the remaining balance,” Merchant said.

Payments are being made via electronic funds transfer and will continue on a rolling basis as verification is completed, officials said.

Merchant also indicated that provisions have been made for eligible individuals no longer in the public service to receive their payments once required information is submitted to the Treasury.