Some public servants to get more than double their salary as bonus — PM

Some public servants will get more than a double salary when the government pays its bonus in January, Prime Minister Godwin Friday says, adding that the payout was “always intended to be a salary bonus”.

During the election campaign, the New Democratic Party’s (NDP) messaging and paraphernalia had suggested that every public servant would be paid a bonus salary within 60 days of coming to office.

The NDP won the Nov. 27 general election, snagging 14 of the 15 parliamentary seats, with the remaining one going to the Unity Labour Party, which had been in office since March 2001.

Speaking on Hot 97 FM on Tuesday, the prime minister said that while the payout will be a salary bonus, it is skewed toward lower-income public servants and “probably close to 50%” will get a double salary.

“… what we intend to do is to use a flat rate across the board, and so that you would find that I am hoping that most — because we’re still tweaking it a little bit — but most of the public servants will experience a double, some will actually get more,” said Friday, who is also minister of finance.

“Because the intention is — and this is equity — that the persons at the bottom of the scale would have the biggest benefit. Because imagine somebody who is earning 9,000, you say, ‘Okay, I want my double salary. I get $18,000’. Somebody making 1,500, you say, well, listen, I get double salary but I get $1,500.”

The prime minister said he hopes most public servants will receive a double salary.

“The ones at the lower end of the scale will get more than double. Because, again, the idea is to have a flat rate right across the board, so that if you’re making $10,000, you get the same as somebody who’s making 1,500 and that way, instead of making it percentage-wise, where the ones who’re lower will always get less, you just do it across the board.”

The prime minister said he did not think that there would be discontent among public servants who receive less than double their salary.

“No, I think people are reasonable. They know what the intent is: to put some money back into your pocket. And the point of the matter is that we’re doing it as a measure from the public purse to say we are going to help you with the cost-of-living crisis.

“For those persons at the lower end of the scale, you know they will see the greatest benefit from it, which is what you always have to look at when you’re dealing with equity.

“… how can you argue when, if you are making $8,000, you get the same amount as somebody who’s making $3,000?”

The prime minister said the bonus will be paid “in the latter part of January”, but separate from public servants’ regular pay.

“They will be grateful, thankful. We said 60 days, and so we will do it within the 60 days — guaranteed”.

The salary bonus was one of four pledges that the NDP promised to implement within 60 days of coming to office.

The first pledge to be honoured was a VAT-free shopping day, which was held on Dec. 19.

The NDP had also promised to increase Public Assistance to EC$500 within 60 days of coming to office.

The prime minister said this will be included in the budget in January and implemented in February.

“This will be part of the regular commitment of government going forward. So, we have to budget for it properly. You see, the VAT-free is a one-off thing for this year thus far, but when you’re dealing with increases in that (Public Assistance), you have to make budgetary preparations and allocations for it going forward,” the prime minister said.

“So, we’ll do that properly because what we’re doing is, you have to be responsible in terms of how you manage government finances.”

He noted that he has spoken over the years about the guardrails set up in the Constitution, the Finance Administration Act, and the conventions that have developed over time.

“And the past government, they disregarded much of that. And so, you have a sense where you felt, well, if they’re doing something or some people are going to benefit, that you’re okay to disregard those guardrails.

“When you do that, though, we get into serious trouble, and that is where we have found ourselves now,” the prime minister said.

“I’m not gonna go out and wring my hand and say, ‘Well, listen, things worse than’ and do so and I’m not going to honour my promise. I promise these things, I will deliver them.”