A proposed pay increase for MPs will be debated by Parliament in the New Year, the Bermuda Sun understands.
An award has been agreed by an independent panel and has been passed to House of Assembly speaker Stanley Lowe. Although the value of the proposed pay-rise is being kept a closely guarded secret, it is understood that backbenchers will receive a heftier increase than Cabinet members.
The last pay increase for MPs came two years ago, when Cabinet members enjoyed the biggest hike - further widening the gap between front and backbenches. The independent panel was charged partly with examining that gap and has decided that it should be narrowed, according to a source close to the negotiations.
The source said: "The figures are all there and it's all been passed to the Speaker. We're waiting for it to be debated - most probably early in the New Year. The increase isn't huge - nothing that will cause people to jump up and down. The increase for backbenchers is greater than for Cabinet."
Several critics have pointed out recently that the relatively large earnings of Cabinet Ministers - thought to be around $150,000 a year with perks - is stifling criticism within Government because no senior politician wants to step out of line and risk losing his or her lucrative position. Backbenchers are also reticent to speak out because they are focused on reaching the higher earning bracket.
This year, Government has faced several protests over pay. In June, police officers staged their first ever march - joining thousands of other public sector workers - to protest pay and conditions. Police have since been awarded a six per cent back-dated pay increase, which will cost millions of dollars.
Teachers have also been staging rolling strikes over pay and every major union on the island is locked in some level of dispute regarding members' salaries.
The proposed pay increase for MPs also comes at a time when Government has been promising to tighten its belt to help weather the current global economic storm.
What do you think? Do MPs deserve more money? E-mail editor Tony McWilliam: tmcwilliam@
bermudasun.bm
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, October 23, 2008
Comment by:
Bruce McClarron / Tucson, Arizona
Well....What did you expect? This is the PLP we are talking about! It amazes me that P/T DO-NOTHING Politicians running (sic) a small town community (60,000) people like BDA, are looking for even more money + all the perks!!!
It's almost like a comedy of errors....Especially as Comrade Brown recently went on local TV. to tell everyone 'Tough Times' are coming!! But, that's 'Tough Times' for everyone else NOT us!!
EVERY Bermudian needs to take a "Sick Day" and stage a 'Sit-'Down' PROTEST on Parliament's grounds, to let these 'INCOMPETENTS' know exactly what they think!!
BERMUDA....DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT!!
Posted: Thursday, October 23, 2008
Comment by:
New Idea
After reading this article it becomes obvious that our politicians must in it for the money instead of serving their community... $150,000 is quite generous compared to what some Govenors make in the US. Since our Premier often uses the phrase 'Anywhere else in the world this sort of thing just would not happen', I just thought it would be nice to compare us and 'the rest of the world' for a change. Unfortunately it works against his argument this time.
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=207914
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Comment by:
Bermudian
With Bermuda in a economic turmoil Government is thinking about increasing their pays come on, they are spending TAXPAYERS moneys as it is( trips Hotels Food, cars etc) so what we the Taxpayers are paying their salaries must mean they are putting all their paychecks away in a bank account and they are feeding off the taxpayers will be interesting where they are going to come up with all the money to back pay the police with? the PLP are spending money like crazy and we ALL know it, it is time PLP to start putting that money back into BERMUDA and start taking care of Bermudians, like housing for one stop lining your OWN pockets all of you have gotten the wrinkles out of your bellies now start taking care of Bermuda and its people.
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Comment by:
Truth
The reality is that if you want talent in any arena, you have to pay for it. Ministers are not compensated adequately in relation to the importance of the position that they have. The Bermuda Government is in direct competition with its own private sector for the best and the brightest that Bermuda has to offer and clearly the Government is losing that fight. The PLP are talent starved. Other than Paula Cox, there are no other suitable candidates for the office of Premier. What Bermudians have to understand is that 150K, whilst that may sound like a lot of money, is not an overly attractive offer when compared to what our private sector is offering up and for the type of person that you are looking to attract to run a Government Ministry. In this case, it is true that you get what you pay for and that’s what we currently have in Government for the most part. The lack of positive results in the Ministries does far more damage and costs more to repair than if we offered a better package and got the right person in the job from the beginning.
Having said that, the question becomes, are we getting our money’s worth from the current crowd of MP’s? Whilst I am not a fan of painting everyone with the same brush, I am comfortable with saying that, on the average, we are not. We have to become more competitive if we want our college graduates to consider working in Government as a chosen a career path and not a job by default. But getting to the point of the article ……floating the idea of an increase for MP’s and backbenchers is in very poor taste in this current climate, considering all of the ongoing labour issues and the global economic conditions. The PLP have lost their way and it is reflected in the polls.
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Comment by:
Novella
Disgraceful, disgraceful,disgraceful.
This Government is all about themselves. If they are supposed to be cutting costs, how in the world can they justify an increase along with all the perks they get? I am so disgusted with the blatent disregard they are showing the people who elected them. They forget that the are the servants of the people and not vice versa.
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Comment by:
PLPGETOUT
KEEP TAKING UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING LEFT.
Gather as many sea shells as you can, by the time this govt. is finished, that will be our currency.
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Comment by:
New Idea
I think MPs should be compensated based on their approval rating.
Posted: Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Comment by:
Scott
I think its a shame, but not surprising, that after all these pay wars/demonstrations, and after the govt declares that it needs to start saving money, that they are even considering debating on getting more.
