Opposition Not Accepting Salary Increase Unless Pensioners Are “Satisfied”

The United Progressive Party (UPP) has declared that its parliamentarians, comprising members of both the Upper and Lower Houses, will not accept any increase in salary until pensioners’ payments have been satisfied.

The UPP has released a press statement stating that it does not believe Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s explanation regarding the 14% salary increment delay for Opposition parliamentarians.

Browne stated over the weekend that the 14% hike included pensioners and ambassadors, but there has been a delay because of a parliamentary glitch.

“While the UPP parliamentarians all confirmed they had not received any notice of this 14 percent increase, Browne – the finance minister – claims that it was mentioned during the Budget Debate – from which the Opposition was shut out. In addition, Browne alleges that the delay in the parliamentarians’ raise was due to a “glitch” with their records from the Parliament”

“However, the UPP dismisses this explanation as nonsense, noting that the tenure of the Opposition Bench would have begun following the General Election of  January 18, 2023 – the very same date as the Government MPs,” the statement said

In their statement, the UPP also highlighted some discrepancies in Prime Minister Browne’s claims regarding a 14 percent increase for pensioners.

The UPP also observed that three Opposition MPs and two senators were returning members, and their records would have been established in the Parliament since 2018 at the latest.

They related to the Cabinet Notes of November 3, 2023, when it said that Government Pensioners are to receive an increase in their monthly payments in keeping with inflationary pressures and the loss in the value of money over time. However, the precise amount is subject to negotiations and affordability.

The notes state that a team at the Ministry of Finance is tasked with determining what is affordable and what revenue stream is likely to be adjusted to ensure that revenues can match the increase in expenditure that an increase in pension payments would trigger.

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle and his colleagues have decided not to accept any salary increase until the pensioners have been satisfied.

They said they will not be exploited to cover the prime minister’s embarrassment.