Pringle vows to return or donate any increase in parliamentary salary until public servants and pensioners are satisfied

Amidst increases being dished out to Cabinet ministers – as some have said,
“left, right and centre” – Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle is refusing to accept
any salary hike until public servants and pensioners have been given what is
rightfully due to them by the Gaston Browne Administration.
 
Within the space of one week, Browne and his ministers awarded themselves
retroactive increases of 14 percent on their salaries and 200 percent on their
duty allowance.
 
And while the prime minister claims the salary hike is applicable not only to
Cabinet ministers but to all parliamentarians, Pringle says he will return or
donate any increase in his remuneration.
 
According to the leader of the United Progressive Party, he and his colleagues
have taken the position that the public servants who are still owed increases
and back pay – and pensioners, too – must be satisfied before any
parliamentarian accepts an increase.

Meanwhile, Pringle says the people of Antigua and Barbuda should stop being
so passive and stand up for what is right.
 
Once the Administration knows it can get away with certain things –since
there is no objection – Pringle warns that it will continue to push the limits of
the people, who are the ones who will suffer in the end.
 
The Opposition MP says that residents should not wait until a General Election
to fight for their rights.

That was Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle.
 
Pringle describes the current situation as another scheme by the Browne
Cabinet to fatten its pockets with taxpayers’ money and says it is a sad day for
the people of Antigua and Barbuda.