Senator, judge question SRC’s salary hike justification
Senior Reporter
kay-marie.fletcher@guardian.co.tt
One independent senator is questioning how the Salaries Review Commission (SRC) came up with its latest recommendations, which include over $150 million in back pay for public officials.
Senator Paul Richards told Guardian Media he believes the SRC needs to provide the benchmarks by which its recommendations were made especially after the initial report was rejected due to anomalies in the salaries for government ministers.
Richards said, “It’s interesting the levels of diverse commentary that this SRC report has generated. The SRC needs to provide the reference and benchmarks upon which the recommendations have been made, especially in the context of the previous report having been rejected due to anomalies identified by the MOF.
“Are the recommendations benchmarked against regional or international positions with comparable responsibilities? It’s also an opportunity for the discussion on the timely negotiations for all public servants and the critical elements of any discussion on salary increases which include performance assessment and management and productivity.”
According to the SRC report, the proposed salary of a senator is $17,020. While senators, along with high-ranking members of the Judiciary will benefit if the SRC report is implemented, one high court judge is also rejecting the proposed pay hike at this time.
The judge, who has asked to remain anonymous, said it would be “irresponsible and inequitable” for the report to be implemented while admitting that judges’ compensation amounts to more than most citizens in this country. Some local judges’ salaries even exceed that of their Caricom colleagues, such as judges in Barbados and Jamaica, according to this judge.
And while the SRC report comes amid heightened protests by public servants to get higher wages, the judge suggested that everyone receive the same pay hike.
The judge said, “High Court judges currently receive $76,000 tax-free with a monthly salary inclusive of allowances. In addition, we have drivers, receive an annual tax-free travel grant of $69,000, can purchase tax-free vehicles every two years, and all medical expenses are borne by the State. This compensation package exceeds what judges are paid in Barbados, the EC, Guyana, and Jamaica, and the reality is that it amounts to more compensation than the majority of citizens receive.
“While there is a need to review the applicable remuneration to reflect the unique role that judges play, the Judiciary is not performing at the required levels of efficiency at this time, and the majority of citizens are struggling to survive even with the offers of three per cent increases. In these circumstances, it would be irresponsible and inequitable for the proposed increases to be implemented. If working-class citizens are being offered three per cent then three per cent should also apply to all those who fall under the purview of the SRC.”
Meanwhile, if the SRC report is implemented, Tobago House of Assembly (THA) executives will also be receiving hefty back pay. According to the report, the Tobago Chief Secretary stands to get $388,726 in back pay.
Guardian Media reached out to Chief Secretary Farley Augustine but received no response up to late yesterday.
However, THA Deputy Chief Secretary Dr Faith B Yisrael said she was not focused on the salary. The SRC report indicated that the THA Deputy Chief Secretary’s current salary is $25,240. The proposed salary is $40,629.
Dr Yisrael said, “The salary is not why we offered ourselves for office. We do our best and will continue to do our best regardless of the decision of the Cabinet/Parliament.”
Guardian Media also reached out to dozens of other officeholders with proposed salary increases from the SRC report, including MPs, mayors, and other state officials. However, they remained tight-lipped, and some said they would await the government’s decision on the report.
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