{"id":174055,"date":"2023-05-18T08:03:33","date_gmt":"2023-05-18T12:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=174055"},"modified":"2023-05-18T08:03:33","modified_gmt":"2023-05-18T12:03:33","slug":"jamaica-opposition-objects-to-massive-increase-for-politicians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/jamaica-opposition-objects-to-massive-increase-for-politicians\/","title":{"rendered":"JAMAICA: Opposition objects to massive increase for politicians"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says it strongly objects to a massive salary increase for cabinet ministers and members of parliament (MP), which was announced on Tuesday by the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).<\/p>

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It is an about-turn from the party’s earlier stance, immediately after the announcement in Parliament, when Opposition Spokesman on Finance Julian Robinson said “The Opposition takes no issue with what the minister has announced.”<\/p>\n

In a statement on Wednesday morning, the Opposition said the salary increase was done without the government first having satisfactorily addressed the serious disaffection of many dedicated teachers, nurses, police officers and other civil servants arising out of the flawed public sector compensation restructuring exercise.<\/p>

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\u201cThis decision was made by the Government, without any consultation with the Opposition other than to seek our political non-objection to the decision when it was already made,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>

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It went on to say that Jamaica\u2019s public servants have \u201ctirelessly served our nation, often under difficult circumstances, and are deserving of fair and equitable compensation for their contribution to the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noting that the recent salary restructuring for public servants has left many of them feeling marginalised and under-valued, the PNP stated that the government’s failure to address their concerns while \u201clavishly rewarding cabinet ministers and members of parliament a massive increase, in what is a clear demonstration of misplaced priorities.\u201d<\/p>

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\u201cWhile some parliamentarians work diligently and deserve an increase in remuneration, it is morally indefensible to grant such a significant raise while so many of our dedicated public servants have seriously lost out and are utterly demoralised by the lack of equity in the recent salary restructuring,\u201d the statement continued, adding that, \u201cIn light of this situation, the PNP demands that the government immediately return to the negotiation table with the unions representing public servants.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Opposition said the government must recognise its responsibility to deliver a fair and just remuneration package for all public servants, before seeking to look after the interests of the political class.<\/p>

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