Pringle condemns ministers’ increase in duty allowance and asks, ‘What about the nurses and pensioners?’

Calling it “quite unconscionable,” Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle
is condemning the latest move by Prime Minister Gaston Browne
and his Cabinet to enrich themselves with a 200 percent increase in
their duty allowance.

Last Friday, April 12, REAL News reported that Government
ministers’ duty allowance had been moved from $1,000 to $3,000
monthly.

And, just like their 14 percent salary increase, this hike has been
made retroactive to January 1, 2023. Accordingly, all eight Cabinet
members had received $24,000 to cover the allowance for last year.

While some residents believe the duty allowance is accorded to all
Members of Parliament, Pringle explains that that is not the case, as
Opposition MPs do not receive this allowance and were not awarded
the 14 percent increase in salary. 

While negotiations continue with the bargaining agents of some
public-sector employees – including the Antigua and Barbuda Public
Service Association – Pringle says it cannot be right for Cabinet
members to jump ahead and give themselves all sorts of increases.
 
Further, the Opposition leader says, it now appears that negotiations
with the teachers – which had dragged on for several years – were
pushed through simply to justify these increases to the ministers.
 
He is asking about increases and outstanding gratuities for nurses –
and for retired persons who have been promised a hike in their
already meager pensions, but are yet to see it.

Pringle notes that even with the recent increase in the minimum
wage, these workers are still struggling; and, instead of looking to
implement a “living wage,” the Gaston Browne Cabinet members are
fattening their own pocket on the backs of the already languishing
people.
 
Referring specifically to the 14 percent salary increase for
Government ministers, Pringle says it was not noted in the 2024
Budget Estimates.
 
He adds that, according to a circular from the financial secretary,
members of Parliament, ministers of government, and two other
categories of workers – including as those on the Work Experience
Programme –
were not entitled to the salary increase for public servants.  

Pringle points out that ministers are already benefitting from
certain job perks to which the ordinary public servant would not be
entitled. Therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that the needs
of the people are met first before they access additional financial
benefits.

Leader of the Opposition Jamale Pringle.
 
During the next sitting of the Lower House, the Opposition leader is
planning to question Browne about both increases. However, he
says, he expects he will be rebuffed, as the House Speaker, as usual,
moves to protect the prime minister.