Opposition MP’s in a huddle /December 2023
Antigua Government Defends Salary Increases for Parliamentarians
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Lionel “Max” Hurst, the spokesperson for the Antigua government, has addressed the issue of salary increases for members of parliament, defending the decision amid public scrutiny.
Hurst stated that the matter wasn’t discussed in the recent cabinet meeting but was open to discussing it in the briefing.
He highlighted that Prime Minister Gaston Browne had publicly pronounced on the issue.
Hurst expressed surprise at the controversy, stating, “We’ve never heard of any intelligent people refusing to receive a raise.”
He argued that after years of service, it’s only natural for parliamentarians to be deserving of an increase, likening it to standard practices in other fields where employees expect raises over time.
Furthermore, Hurst debunked claims of unfairness, citing historical instances where similar adjustments were made, such as when the United Progressive Party (UPP) increased allowances before introducing personal income tax, ensuring that parliamentarians’ take-home pay remained stable.
He dismissed suggestions that parliamentarians were underpaid compared to others in the public service, emphasizing that the increases were part of correcting such disparities.
Hurst also addressed the issue of transparency, noting that the salary raises were included in the budgetary presentation, refuting claims of surprise or lack of prior knowledge.
He criticized what he called the “untruthfulness” of some political campaigns that misrepresented the salary increases as unexpected.
Hurst asserted that the raises were a necessary step to fairly reward parliamentarians for their work, although he acknowledged that some may not work as diligently as others.
He emphasized that the decision was part of an ongoing effort to rectify discrepancies and ensure fair compensation for government officials.
Listen to the comments from Hurst in this youtube video posted below:
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