Opposition Chief Whip Dr David Lee has questioned the timing of the Government’s decision to lay the Salaries Review Commission’s (SRC) 117th report in Parliament Friday, on the back of the oil spill disaster in Tobago and the debate over nominations to Deputy Commissioners of Police.
Lee according to a GML report, said: “I’m surprised the Government brought this report on Friday and the question I want to ask is; it is a deflection tactic? Two issues happened yesterday (Friday); One is the big disaster of the oil spill in Tobago and the second is the drama that took place in parliament in the debates regarding the four Deputy Commissioners of Police.”
He said it was “strange” the Government would want to bring the report at this point in time. “I think it was to deflect away from that oil spill and the lack of urgency this Government has placed on the recovery and clean-up of that oil spill. This Government knows when they lay that report, whether they want the increase or not, the Opposition will be asked our views on it.”
Among the SRC’s recommendations is that the Opposition Leader’s salary increases from $29,590 to $47,500. MPs stand to benefit from a $3,258 increase with their salaries rising from $17,410 to $20,668.
Dinesh Rambally, who is MP for Chaguanas West, said he will not support a proposed salary increase for Parliamentarians at this time.