Prime Minister Gaston Browne says delays affecting some outstanding back pay claims are being caused by administrative issues within government ministries rather than a shortage of funds.

Responding to concerns raised during his weekly radio programme on Saturday, Browne said the government has already paid more than $30 million in retroactive salary payments and that the overwhelming majority of eligible public servants have received their money.

“We have paid over $30 million in back pay,” Browne said, adding that he had been advised by the Financial Secretary that more than 90 percent of eligible workers have already been paid.

The prime minister said the remaining cases largely involve ministries and departments that have failed to submit the necessary documentation to the Treasury for processing.

“I’m told, though, that there’s some slippages within many ministries not submitting the documentation,” Browne said.

According to Browne, the Treasury cannot process payments without the required records and supporting information.

“The treasury cannot pay without documentation,” he said.

Browne explained that in some cases eligible workers were inadvertently omitted from payment lists because the necessary paperwork was not properly prepared or submitted. He noted that some police officers were among those affected by the issue.

“So, for example, I’m told that with the police, that police were paid but there were some other officers for some reason they were left out,” Browne said. “You have these little gaps that we’re trying to satisfy.”

The prime minister said he has directed the Financial Secretary to engage ministries and permanent secretaries to ensure outstanding documentation is submitted so that eligible workers can receive payment.

“I’ve asked the financial secretary to write to these respective ministries to ask them to make sure that those individuals who, for whatever reason or reasons, were inadvertently omitted, to make sure the documentation gets into the treasury so we can pay them,” Browne said.

He also criticized the practice of some ministries referring workers directly to the Ministry of Finance instead of determining whether they qualify for back pay.

Browne said some individuals seeking payments are not eligible because they were contract workers or were not employed during the period covered by the retroactive salary agreement.

“Some people are not even eligible for back pay,” he said. “And when they go to the ministries, they send them to the Ministry of Finance, knowing that they’re not eligible because they were not working for the period of the back pay.”

The prime minister said ministries should provide accurate information to workers rather than directing them to the Treasury when they do not qualify.

“Instead of educating the people, they just tell them, ‘Oh, go to the Ministry of Finance,’” Browne said.

During a later segment of the programme, Browne reiterated that the government has largely completed the back pay exercise and described the remaining cases as a small percentage of the overall workforce.

“What we have done, you know, we have cleared all arrears,” Browne said. “We don’t owe no worker, well other than those who, you know, little gaps. Maybe less than five percent.”

He added that bringing public sector back pay obligations up to date represents a significant achievement.

“95 plus has been paid,” Browne said. “We have brought all back up to date. That’s never happened in the history of this country.”

The government began issuing retroactive salary payments following agreements reached with public sector unions covering wage increases for previous contract periods.

Browne maintained that funds remain available for eligible workers whose payments have not yet been processed and urged ministries to ensure all outstanding documentation is submitted promptly.