No retroactive payments for parliamentarians, says Patterson
November 18, 2005
PRIME Minister PJ Patterson said the outstanding pay increases for parliamentarians, which have been frozen since 2002, will be paid after the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the public sector unions expires next March.
"I hope that it will be reported that whatever we finally approve during this debate will not have a retroactive effect, and will only come into being after the present form of the MOU has expired," Patterson told the House of Representatives Tuesday as he opened the debate on a motion seeking approval for the recommendations of the Clarke Committee on parliamentary salaries which were, eventually, approved by a Special Parliamentary Group (SPG).
Patterson said that the matter had been pending too long - since November 2003- when the Clarke Committee report was tabled. He pointed out that cabinet had already accepted the committee's recommendations, which are supported by the SPG, a group headed by Finance Minister Dr Omar Davies.
"We have to prevent a situation where it is felt that by virtue of being parliamentarians, we've a right to fix our salaries and emoluments as we deem fit without regard for what is happening in other areas of the public service," the prime minister told fellow parliamentarians....
Author: Observer Reporter
Source: Jamaica Observer
