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A glitch in the parliamentarian records system is said to be the root cause of the failure to update the salaries of some Members of Parliament by 14%
The error is said to have caused discrepancies in data, resulting in some MPs not receiving the salary increase that they were entitled to.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne addressed claims made by the opposition regarding the 14% salary increase.
The government has implemented a 14% salary increase, which is said to be across the board for parliamentarians, but some elected opposition members say they are unaware of the increase and were not consulted.
Over the weekend, the Prime Minister clarified that this increase is not limited only to government ministers but applies to all public servants within the country.
This includes parliamentarians, ambassadors, and even pensioners who receive benefits from the government.
The Prime Minister’s statement seeks to dispel any misconceptions regarding the nature of the salary increase and reinforce the government’s commitment to fair and equitable treatment of all public servants.
“Our political opponents are trying to make a case that we clandestinely increase the pay for parliamentarians. They weren’t present during the budget debate and clearly, they didn’t read the estimates because we would have announced last year that we were giving a 14% increase to everyone…”
“My understanding is they may not have gotten their increase because of some glitch with the records that were sent from parliament”
Browne said the 14% increase applies to all parliamentarians, opposition, government parliamentarians, ambassadors, and other members of staff, including pensioners
At least five opposition members confirmed that they did not receive an increase in their salaries
The Ministers and Parliamentarians Salaries Act of 1994 governs the remuneration of members of parliament, which varies based on their rank and position.
At present, parliamentarians’ salaries range from $2,000 to $12,500 per month
The lowest-paid member of parliament is a senator, who earns $2,000 per month, while the Prime Minister receives the highest base salary of $12,500 per month.
Additionally, ministers are entitled to per diems, covering cellphones, travel, insurance and utilities, on top of their regular salaries
Take a listen to the PM’s remarks
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