Holness hits back at Opposition on salary

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Thursday hit back at Opposition Leader Mark Golding over criticism of a recently announced salary increase that will see the prime minister earning $28.6 million a year.

Government ministers and parliamentarians received a 200 per cent salary increase under the public sector compensation review.

During his contribution to the Budget Debate earlier this week, Golding criticised Holness for backtracking on his decision not to accept the package.

Golding argued that the move was “shameful and deceptive,” noting that there was no indication in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) manifesto, campaign speeches or debates that the prime minister intended to take the increase.

Responding in the House of Representatives this afternoon, Holness said members of the Opposition were themselves eager to benefit from the pay hike.

“The Leader of the Opposition only talks. I do the job of prime minister and head four ministries,” Holness said.

“The Leader of the Opposition only talks—many times nonsense—and takes home $27 million. In the last term, the Leader of the Opposition earned more than the prime minister,” he added, drawing desk-thumping from Government MPs.

Holness also pointed to what he described as inconsistencies within the Opposition.

“The Opposition spokesman on finance stood in this House and said the Opposition had no problem with the increase in MPs’ salaries. A few days later, the PNP General Secretary issued a release strongly objecting to the increase to Cabinet ministers and MPs. Yet none of them, with their self-righteous objections, declined the increase,” he said.

He asserted that members of the Opposition were among the first to contact Parliament about retroactive payments.

“There was a member on that side—not to be named—who called to say I should ignore the statements of the General Secretary and the Opposition Leader, as all their MPs agreed with the increase and could not survive without it,” Holness said.

- Corey Robinson

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