Church leader calls all Jamaicans to boycott Labour Day 2023 in light of parliamentarians' massive salary increases.

Bishop Dr. Alvin Bailey

 

"Contrary to the Information Minister Robert Morgan’s statement, the process might not be simple but the proposed new salaries can and must be rolled back, as to pursue that plan will hurt the future of our country, for the short-term personal benefit of a few."

Bishop Dr, Alvin Bailey, the head of the Holiness Christian Church and leader of the Jamaica Evangelical Alliance, who had previously called the increase in government ministers' salaries "shameful and immoral" is now calling on all Jamaicans to boycott this year's Labour Day activities, which should be on Tuesday, May 23, in protest of the massive increase in salaries granted to parliamentarians. Bishop Bailey is also chairman of Jamaica CAUSE, which according to its Facebook page is a "grouping of Jamaican churches concerned about the advancing attack on [Jamaica's] sovereignty and constitutional freedoms".

The boycott according to the Bishop will send a strong message to the political directorate that Jamaicans should not be taken for granted or exploited. 

"I call on all citizens to stay home and use the day to labour in their personal spaces, instead of engaging in the public activities as outlined by the government," he said

He asserts that the political representatives should seek to serve in the interest of the society for the well-being of all Jamaicans. These were the reasons they were elected in the first place.

According to the clergyman, the Labour Day holiday, which is rooted in the thinking that workers should be recognised for their contribution to nation building, while creating activities to improve the physical spaces in the country and boost national pride, has now been undermined by what he said was an act of greed.

In a previous statement, the Bishop had promised to reveal a public campaign, which he would lead with the support of the church community, private sector and well thinking Jamaicans, to speak out against what he described as an injustice to the citizens and to keep protesting until the new salary package has been reviewed.

The massive salary increases for politicians were announced in Parliament on Tuesday by Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke. In some cases, the salaries for the political directorate have skyrocketed to more than 200 per cent.

Indeed, the increases to the politicians will cost Jamaicans $1.7 billion over the next three years.

Bishop Bailey:

"The unconscionable, disgraceful, and insensitive increases in salaries that the Minister of Finance announced were to benefit a select number of privileged public servants. This, to my mind, is an insult and a slap in the face of the average working class Jamaican."

He also noted that the large salary increases were indicative of an acceleration in moral decay, aimed at widening the class structure, while being insensitive to the plight of the Jamaican people, who continue to suffer from economic hardships.

"Contrary to the Information Minister Robert Morgan’s statement, the process might not be simple but the proposed new salaries can and must be rolled back, as to pursue that plan will hurt the future of our country, for the short-term personal benefit of a few," he said.