PNP makes about-turn regarding salary hike for political directorate

 

The People's National Party (PNP) has made an about-turn on its initial response to the new salaries for the political directorate.

 

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson said the opposition had no issue with the pay hikes announced by Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke.

 

But in media statement dated May 16, the PNP said it strongly objected to a massive increase for politicians without the government first having satisfactorily addressed what it calls the serious disaffection of many civil servants arising out of the public sector compensation restructuring exercise.

 

Speaking on the Morning Agenda on Power 106 on Wednesday, the Finance Minister said the posture of the PNP was inconsistent.

 

PNP General Secretary Dr. Dayton Campbell, who was also a guest on the programme, sought to explain its position while insisting that the government reopen negotiations with unions representing public servants. 

 

"The inconsistency that is glaring is the difference in the increase of the salaries for the political directorate and the increase for the rest of the public service. The inconsistency that is glaring is that persons were dealt with in a very harsh way, saying that there is no more money, they couldn’t get any more increase, and then you see a very wanton increase to the political directorate," Dr. Campbell pointed out.  

  

The PNP added that the decision on the pay increases was made without any consultation with the opposition, except to seek its support for the decision after it was already made.

 

Dr. Campbell described the compensation restructuring exercise as flawed, saying it further widens the gap between executives and staff.

 

"Now, if you’re listening to the people and if you’re hearing what the people are complaining about, they’ve always been saying that those at the very top are getting the large increase and those in the middle are not getting anything. I’ve heard teachers say that the net difference in their pay is $2,000. That is not something that we can't ignore," he argued, citing the JTA president's call for a "livable wage". 

 

But Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke said he spoke with his opposition counterpart, Julian Robinson, before making the announcement about the pay increases for members of the legislature and executive. 

 

"He can speak for himself, but I don’t think he relied on his own judgement. But I certainly would have spoken to him, again, not listing the numbers and the numerals but outlining the principle that the salaries of the Cabinet Ministers will continue to be aligned with that of permanent secretaries, and I would have mentioned the salaries of permanent secretaries, which has been in the public domain since December," he explained.