THE People’s National Movement (PNM) will not be in power after the next general election, and, therefore, the move to accept the Salaries Review Commission (SRC) report is to ensure that they receive their pensions, says Opposition MP Dr Roodal Moonilal.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced during a post-Cabinet news conference on Thursday that he will accept the SRC’s 120th report, which recommended pay increases for a wide range of public officials, including himself, the President and the Opposition Leader.
Opposition MP:
Dr Roodal Moonilal
“Today, he is filling his plate before he goes. The effect of this is that they will have no job in a few months. They are not Prime Minister or ministers any more, so it’s not a wage increase; it is for their pensions. When they demit office in a few months, the Prime Minister will end up with a pension of $87,800 per month. Ministers will end up with pensions of over $40,000 per month, and they will not be able to get a job. No one will hire them to run a parlour,” Moonilal said while speaking at a United National Congress (UNC) “Pavement” meeting on Thursday in Claxton Bay. The meeting attracted a large crowd who lined the pavement.
He pointed out that Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar had said that a 4% increase in the wages of public servants was inadequate, while the Government had responded by stating there was no money and that the country could not afford more.
He questioned where the money is now coming from to finance salary increases and pensions.
The Rowley Government has claimed that the country should wait for better times in 2027 with a Dragon gas deal, but the Prime Minister could not wait and wants his better time now, Moonilal said.
Caring Kamla
Moonilal said that under Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s tenure as Prime Minister, the Children’s Life Fund was established, and she contributed 10% of her salary to the fund, with Government members contributing 5% of their pay.
In contrast, he said Rowley has done nothing for the country but has taken a salary hike.
He said the Rowley Government poorly managed the economy and made a detrimental decision to shut down the Petrotrin refinery.
The UNC, he said, will commission engineering studies to reopen the refinery.
Moonilal stated that refining operations in Trinidad could be lucrative, noting that Guyana is leading the world in oil production, and Suriname has gas for the next 50 years.
Criticising Government Minister Camille Robinson-Regis for her comments about the Opposition, Moonilal said that UNC members are hard-working professionals who earn their income both “inside and outside” of politics.
He added that there are many businessmen, consultants, lawyers, and doctors in the UNC who do not depend on the treasury to live.
Moonilal said the Rowley Government had taken a pay increase while police officers have yet to receive their backpay, and the former Petrotrin workers’ pension fund is in deficit.
He said that the last time there was an increase in the old age pension was under the Persad-Bissessar administration.
Insulting CEPEP,
URP workers
Princes Town MP Barry Padarath also lambasted the Prime Minister, saying he is taking a pay increase while “spitting” in the faces of CEPEP and URP workers, who received a mere $2 increase (in minimum wage) in the budget.
Padarath said PNM constituencies, such as Laventille and Port of Spain South, continue to be in “squalor,” while their representatives will be seeing increases in their pay.
He said that every Cabinet minister would receive an increase of $12,000, moving from $41,000 to $53,000. He also mentioned Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland, who had advised the population to ride bicycles to work and cook in coal pots.
He said that Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi, whose family receives millions in rent, would also benefit from the increase, as would Government MP Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis, who had declared that the PNM was in charge.
Padarath urged the Prime Minister not to take the “coward” approach and implement the increases through a ministerial note by the finance minister, but to have the SRC report debated in Parliament and put to a vote.
He said the PNM’s A-team and B-team would be able to vote, as well as some UNC members who have said they will support legislation brought by the PNM.