Local government officials across Guyana are set to receive significant increases to their monthly stipends within days, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand announced Thursday.

Manickchand said the government is finalising implementation of the measure, which was committed to during the last budget cycle.

Under the new rates, Neighbourhood Democratic Council chairpersons will see their stipends rise from $10,000 to $50,000 per month, while vice chairpersons will move from $5,000 to $40,000. Councillors will receive an increase from $3,000 to $30,000.

Regional Democratic Council councillors will also benefit, with their stipends moving from $30,000 to $50,000 per month.

"We are looking forward to getting this to you shortly, in a matter of days," Manickchand said, acknowledging delays in the timely delivery of the increases.

She said the government remains committed to improving the functioning of local government bodies.

"I believe that we can work together to make our local bodies function better and this is our part of trying to make sure that we can do our part as a state to help these bodies to function better," she said.

Some 70 chairpersons and vice chairpersons will benefit from the increases, along with more than 1,000 councillors.