System of accountability coming for MPs and government ministers after massive salary increases says the PM.

Jamaica's Prime Minister, Andrew Michael Holness.

 

Most Hon. Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, has warned his MPs and Government Ministers that a system of accountability will soon be implemented for members of the political directorate, in light of the massive salary increases they received effective April 1, 2023. The PM divulged this information after the caustic criticisms that subsequently followed the move.

Speaking at a New Social Housing Programme (NSHP) handing-over ceremony in Bog Walk St. Catherine on Friday (May 19), the PM said "Every single (Jamaica Labour Party) MP, all ministers, are now committed to ensuring that they earn the salaries" which they will receive.

"... We were not able to put, first and foremost, the accountability measures (in place for politicians), but I will announce shortly, a series of accountability measures," PM Holness said. 

Of note, the Prime Minister's disclosure came after the influential Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) and the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters’ Association (JMEA) said while they do not object in principle to the salary increases for politicians, the move should be accompanied by "a transparent accountability system that will allow citizens to assess the performance of the political directorate."

According to a joint release by the organisations on Thursday (May 18), the groups believe that implementing key performance indicators (KPIs) and having job descriptions for all parliamentarians and ministers, are crucial. In addition, they also called for the quick passing of the Constitution Impeachment Amendment Act, 2021, in Parliament.

In his remarks on Friday, Holness said he has informed his MPs and Cabinet ministers that "the price" of such a massive increase in salaries for them "is accountability".

PM Holness' annual salary as Prime Minister rose by approximately 214 per cent, with his pay moving from $9.1 million in 2021 to $28.6 million effective April 1, 2024, and effective April 1, 2023, he will receive $25.3 million.

Cabinet ministers are to receive a massive increase in salary as of April 2023 and April 1, 2024, with their pay moving from $6.9 million in 2021 to $22.9 million next year.

PM Holness also said that the second phase of the compensation structure will be focused on performance-based remuneration systems.

"So, yes, we are happy to hear the society call for accountability.

"We are happy to hear the society call for performance measurements and, yes, it will be implemented both for the executive and for the legislature," he stated.

Such a system, said PM Holness, will also be the "general trend" for the public service.

"The idea is that we must now claim increased productivity, having addressed the longstanding issue of wage level in the civil service," he said.

The Prime Minister also made it clear that the parliamentary members of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) are well aware that having gotten the increases, they "must now prove to the Jamaican people, even harder than they were working before, that the increases are justified and they understand that.

"They (JLP MPs) understand that the accountability issues are foremost in the minds of the people, and we must do tangible things," the Prime Minister said.