Dear Editor,

The recent move by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in announcing his walk back from his own massive salary hike while his Administration proceeds to accept the massive pay increase leaves a lot to be desired.

In this latest bizarre move, the prime minister has created an anomaly between his salary as prime minister and those of the members of the Cabinet, Opposition leader, and Members of Parliament who will all receive hundreds of percentage increases. He has not stated for how long he intends to forgo his pay rise. This seems rather untidy and a sign of poor governance.

The prime minister should have rolled back the huge increases for the entire political directorate and granted a significantly lower increase, which would bring them all in line with their Caribbean counterparts, for example.

The political class of the Jamaica Labour Party and People’s National Party need to understand that the people of Jamaica are still outraged by the glaring discrepancy in pay increases between them and other civil servants. The recent decision to grant themselves a massive pay increase while offering a paltry raise to hard-working civil servants is a grave injustice that cannot go unnoticed or unchallenged.

As citizens, we expect fairness and equity from our Government, especially when it comes to the distribution of public funds. However, the decision to provide exorbitant salary hikes exclusively to the political elites while neglecting the needs of other civil servants demonstrates a shocking disregard for the welfare of those who tirelessly serve our nation.

Civil servants, including teachers, health-care workers, police officers, and many others, are the backbone of our society. They work diligently day in and day out, often in challenging circumstances, to ensure the smooth functioning of our nation and the well-being of its citizens. Yet they have been offered meagre pay increases that are wholly inadequate to address the rising costs of living and provide for their families.

This inequitable distribution of funds sends a distressing message to our hard-working civil servants. It undermines their dedication, demoralises their efforts, and creates a sense of betrayal among those who have committed their careers to public service. The Government’s actions not only undermine the morale of civil servants but also contribute to a growing disillusionment with the system and a loss of trust in our elected officials.

Moreover, this discrepancy in pay increase further exacerbates income inequality within our society. It widens the gap between the privileged political elite and the dedicated civil servants who work tirelessly to keep our country running smoothly. Such a stark disparity is not only unfair but also perpetuates social and economic divisions that we should be actively working to bridge.

It is disheartening that the burden placed on public funds comes at a time when our country faces numerous challenges, including poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to quality education and health care. The funds earmarked for the massive pay increase granted to the political directorate could have been better utilised to address these pressing issues and uplift the lives of all Jamaicans.

As concerned citizens, we have a duty to hold our Government accountable for their actions. I call upon fellow Jamaicans to join their voices in protest against this unjust decision. We must demand transparency, fairness, and equal treatment for all civil servants. It is time to prioritise the well-being and livelihoods of those who selflessly serve our nation.

The massive pay increase awarded to the political directorate compared to the paltry raise offered to other civil servants is an affront to fairness and equitable governance. We must stand together to condemn this injustice and demand that our Government rectifies this situation.

Let us strive for a system that values and appreciates the contributions of all public servants and ensures equal treatment for all.

Peter Townsend

National Democratic Movement

petertown1@yahoo.com