Most people, including myself, do not think the vulgar level of increases ranging from 100-300 %, is by
any means justifiable. For when you look at the top performers around the world and the compensation thier leaders earn in comparison to ours,
there is just no justification for the proposed level of increases.
For example, Britain has the 6th
largest economy in the world, yet the recent increase would bring our PM’s
compensation to only $150,000 less than thiers, although our economy is way down at
#130! (Measured by GDP).
Go figure.
In light of the hostile reaction
to the disgraceful increases in politician’s salaries, the prime minister, fast
on the heels of a pronouncement from the leader of the opposition, is saying he
won’t grab the increase but everyone else will. (The leader of the opposition said he will only
take 20% of his increase and give the rest to charity).
Give me a break.
Another slap for the taxpayers is
the fact that former prime ministers who are still living, will also benefit from the
whopping increases.
Those living are; P.J. Patterson,
Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller.
In my book however, the only
former prime minister who deserves any raise is Portia.
For wasn’t it under P.J. that
Jamaica’s economy hit rock bottom with the Finscac Affair which
destroyed some 40,000 businesses and put the country into recession for
years?
And why would Bruce Golding be
deserving of a whopping increase when he only served as prime minister for 4
years before having to resign in disgrace after being accused of putting
the interests of a notorious criminal above that of the country?
Portia is most deserving, as she returned
Jamaica’s reputation to respectability and it was under her leadership that Dr.
Peter Phillips restored Jamaica’s economy to viability, so we can now have money
to spend on development rather than on debt servicing.
Another aspect of the inequitable
handout being given to politicians without ‘accountability’ is the fact that parish
councilors have also been awarded much more than they deserve.
For their pay has been increased
by more than 300%, moving their renumeration from $1.6 million per year
to $5 million.
How many councilors are
performers? In my book, probably no more than 10%.
During the many years, I
spent on radio, no topic was more pervasive than that of the non-performance
of the councilors.
For decades, it has been recognized
that taxpayers do not get value for the money spent on the parish council system. As in the main, their functions often overlap with that of the constituency representative, the MP.
That is why some 40 years ago,
a study was done and it was proposed that parish councils be replaced with County
Councils.
In other words, instead of having 13 Parish mini-governments, it should be replaced by 3 County councils, representing Cornwall, Middlesex
and Surrey.
I liked the suggestion then and I
still like it. For in my view, we have just too many politicians tripping
all over each other with taxpayers getting short changed, every inch of the way.😡
Delivering good, cost-effective representation was not the objective of politicians 40 years ago, so the recommendation was shelved.
And value for money is not the objective today either.
Therefore, this latest act of exploitation
will most likely be just another 9-day talk as politicians continue to
enjoy the fruits of our labor without any accountability.
(See also : https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2023/05/absolute-madness.html?m=1)
3 comments:
Well said that's why I like you, shen you wrong you wrong, when you right you just right.lol.
I’m feel sorry for the low level civil servants, police, firefighters, teachers, etc who deserve a living wage.
So, now we pay yu so much money, you don't have to tief, rite?....rite?.... yu nah ansa me man?
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