Heather Robinson
On the eve of the general elections of 1989, the People's National Party (PNP) held a seminar for the party's candidates in Ocho Rios.
The chairman of the party P.J. Patterson was responsible in large part for the organisation and agenda of the seminar. He had assigned responsibilities to several persons.
While driving down to Ocho Rios, I suddenly remembered that I had wanted to present the candidates with their prospective salaries. P.J. Patterson's response was to simply say that was not a necessity. And so the persons who were elected to form the government of 1989 had no idea what they would be earning.
Those persons who formed the government of 1989 were for the most part persons who would see their monthly salaries deteriorate, while others tried desperately to stay out of debt.
Criticisms
Some of the persons who are most critical of the salaries paid to parliamentarians would never agree to be employed for these salaries.
These critics range from journalists, commentators, business persons, constituents, and even some sitting parliamentarians. It is also interesting to wonder or contemplate how many of these same persons would ever place their names on a ballot to try to get elected as a representative of the people.
But how do these salaries compare with salaries paid to some persons in the private and perhaps the public sector? (See Table)
Do you believe that the CEO in distribution, wholesale and retail trade would give up his job to become Prime Minister or Minister of Finance? And why would the deputy group president in information technology forfeit his nine-million-dollar salary to become deputy prime minister? All of these persons report to a small group of shareholders and are not subject to constant ridicule and bother.
The salaries for parliamentarians are gross salaries and when one deducts statutory deductions which amount to about 31 per cent, one wonders, how do they survive?
Some will argue that none of these persons were forced at gunpoint to accept these jobs, and there are others who will argue that they are better paid than most government workers. Others will also tell you that some are lazy and undeserving of the current salaries, and should not get one cent more.
Parliamentarians are the most abused and vilified public servants. Constituents expect them to solve all problems and journalists and cartoonists use them as a constant source for their creative exploits.
Someone has to do it, and do we really expect them to do it for free? The bottom line is simply: is it worth it? What do you think?
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
Comparison of salaries Current |
| Parliamentary Salaries | Private Sector Salaries 2005 |
Prime Minister | $4.7m | CEO (distribution,wholesale & retail trade) | $13.0m |
Deputy P.M. | $4.1m | Group president & CEO |
| | (information technology) | $9.0m |
Minister of
Finance | $3.8m | Managing director (financial services) | $8.3m |
| Minister | $3.5M | President (financial services) | $8.0m |
House Speaker
& Leader of |
| Opposition | $3.3m | Executive director (education and training) | $6.5m |
| Minister of State | $3.1m | Actuary (financial services) | $4.7m |
Parliament
Secretary &
Deputy Speaker | $2.6m | |
Member of
Parliament | $2.2m | |
|
|
- Source: Jamaica Employers Federation Salary Survey 2005
