Has civil society given the PNP a free pass?
Dear Editor,
I find it instructive that so far not one member of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has totally declined the salary increase which has stirred national debate. A promised update about the position of the PNP Members of Parliament (MPS) and councillors has not been forthcoming and payday has come and gone.
Despite this, it appears the PNP has been allowed to get away with a free pass, in terms of lack of accountability and having a defined solitary position concerning the issue of salary increases for political representatives, which will also indisputably apply to its councillors and MPS.
Firstly, we had a situation in which the Pnp-appointed Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson twice said the Opposition does not object to the increases announced by Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke.
A few hours later, the PNP called a press conference during which its President Mark Golding blasted the salary increases as unconscionable, but in an apparent attempt to claim a facile political win, indicated that he’d accept the monies but donate 80 per cent of the additional sum to charity.
Beyond that, to add to the cacophony of responses by the PNP, its General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell, who will now benefit from an over $20-million per annum salary due to his position on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ), sat beside Golding at that press conference and ostensibly supported the call for a roll back of increases given to other members of the political directorate without initially disclosing his own increase or calling for a rescinding of his additional remuneration.
Make no bones about it, I acknowledge that the increases, though significant, are long overdue; however, I cannot help but notice the persistent advocacy from various groups, including National Integrity Action (NIA) and the so-called Advocacy Network, that have been demanding that the Government and its members refuse the increase.
These groups appear not to have noticed that over a week ago the PNP said its MPS and councillors have not yet come to a decision on whether to accept the increase. It’s odd that none of the civil society groups has demanded that the PNP state its position clearly on this matter, despite the passage of well over a week. I am, therefore, compelled to ask: Has civil society groups given the PNP a free pass and if so, why ?
Andy Wilkinson andrewwilkinson344@gmail. com