THE PARLIAMENTARY Salaries Review Committee has set June 30 as the deadline for persons and groups to send in their submissions on salaries for parliamentarians.
The committee which was set up by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson earlier this year to review the emoluments for parliamentarians, is expected to complete its report by the end of next month. Following this, the report is to be tabled in Parliament.
Those persons wishing to make submissions to the committee may do so in writing. The submissions should be sent to: Mrs. Maria Walters, Ministry of Finance and Planning, 30 National Heroes Circle, Kingston 4.
Among the issues that the committee is considering is whether the current formula for calculating the salaries of parliamentarians should be maintained, changed or totally abandoned.
Currently, the salaries of parliamentarians are pegged to those of civil servants by a formula which was recommended by a 1973 parliamentary committee headed by Leslie Ashenheim.
FORMULA
Under the formula a Cabinet Minister is paid $52 more than a Permanent Secretary. At the same time, the Prime Minister is paid 33.3 per cent more than the Cabinet Minister while the Deputy Prime Minister (if one is appointed) is paid 16.65 per cent above a Cabinet Minister.
Members of Parliament who do not carry Ministerial responsibilities are paid 37.5 per cent below a Cabinet Minister.
Salaries for parliamentarians have doubled over the last three years - moving from $1.08 million in 1999 to $2.2 million in 2002. The last increase was granted in October last year. However, the Prime Minister has put on hold further increases which were due on April 1, 2003; April 1, 2004; April 1, 2005 until the committee makes its report.
Managing director of The Gleaner Company Ltd., Oliver Clarke, is chairman of the committee. The other members are Corrine McLarty, Bishop Charles Dufour, Tony Lewars and Las Perry.
Persons interested in getting more information about parliamentary salaries can visit the committee's website at www.parliamentarysalaries.org.
