Dionne Rose, Parliamentary Reporter
Members of Parliament (MPs) are to receive increases between 15 and 17.5 per cent over a two-year period, according to information from the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
The 60 MPs will receive between 10 and 12.5 per cent in the first year (April 1, 2006 to March 2007) and five per cent in year two (April 1, 2007 to March 2008).
On Wednesday, parliamentarians unanimously supported a
resolution that would make the increases effective. They will however take effect after Cabinet approval.
Outlined recommendations
Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies, who moved the resolution, also outlined recommendations from a special select committee of Parliament which had examined the Ministry Paper on Parliamentarians Pay and Conditions of Service after a special parliamentary group's examination of the report of the Oliver Clarke-led Parliamentary Salaries Review Committee.
The special committee recommended that the Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker of
the House should receive the
same compensation as a Cabinet Minister.
On the current 20 per cent duty concession regime on motor vehicles for parliamentarians, the committee ruled that this should be reviewed.
It also recommended that the present system by which parliamentarians report to the Integrity Commission should be retained.
In 2002, parliamentarians received a 103 per cent salary hike. The increase was linked to a general increase for civil servants, aimed at bringing their wages to 80 per cent of those paid in the private sector for comparable work.
The increase however triggered public outcry and prompted then-Prime Minister P.J. Patterson to appoint a parliamentary salaries committee, chaired by Oliver Clarke, to review the formula for awarding increases in compensation to parliamentarians.
Parliamentary Salaries
| Position | Current salary | | Prime Minister | $4.7m |
| Deputy PM | $4.1m |
| Minister of Finance | $3.8m |
| Speaker of the House | $3.3m |
Minister of State | $3.1m | |
| Leader of the Opposition | $3.3m | |
| Parliamentary Secretary | $2.6m | |
| Deputy Speaker | $2.6m | |
Member of Parliament | $2.2m |
