‘Lunch Time Protests’ - Advocates Network calls daily outcry against politicians mega salaries

Civil society group, The Advocates Network, says it it will be organizing daily 'Lunch Time Protests', from 12 noon to 2 p.m., in front of the Ministry of Finance, in a bid to get the government to roll back the high salaries that have been granted to members of the political directorate.

On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nigel Clarke outlined wage increases of over 200 per cent for the prime minister, his deputy, Cabinet ministers and their juniors, as well as members of parliament.

"We encourage Jamaicans to join us and make your voice be heard about these unconscionable salary increases," the group, which includes Rosalea Hamilton, Robert Stephens, Donna Mattis, Devon Taylor and Indi McLymont-Lafayette said in a media release last night.

With the new rates, the prime minister's salary moved from $9.1 million to $25.2 million, effective April 2023, while the Opposition Leader's salary moved to $22.7 million from $8 million.

The prime minister's salary is set to increase to $28.6 million next year April, while the Opposition Leader's will move to $25.7 million.

In the wake of backlash over the massive pay hike for politicians, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he will soon be announcing a series of accountability measures for members of parliament (MPs) and Cabinet ministers. However, The Advocates Network said the prime minister sounds like "him hav de ting backways."

"He is 'putting the cart before the horse," said The Advocates Network, which describes itself as a non-partisan alliance of individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and good governance for Jamaicans.

The group said that job descriptions and accountability measures must come before salary increases "so that the taxpayers will know what performance indicators have been met to justify the salary increases that will be paid by their hard-earned tax dollars".

The Advocates Network, has, among other things, called for a roll back of the salary increases for the political directorate to no more than 20 per cent, in line with other public sector workers, until an independent report is produced on the performance of each MP and ministers of government.