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| St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly (Photo by Erasmus Williams) |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 16TH 2005 Over the past years, it has been the practice for elected members of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly to be given an increase in salaries and emoluments at the same time as public servants.
However, this was not done in August 2004, when an increase in emoluments was paid to public servants and pensioners.
Instead as announced by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas during a Press Conference in August 2004, an Independent Salaries Committee would be established in order to foster greater transparency and accountability and to avoid any potential conflict of interest.
This he said would ensure that any decision in respect of remuneration for Parliamentarians is based on objective criteria and professional judgement.
The following persons were appointed on February 23rd 2005 to serve on the Independent Salaries Committee:
Mr. Charles Brisbane, O.B.E., Chairman
Mr. Emile Ferdinand, Member
Mr. Omax Gardner, Member
This Committee is expected to make recommendations on salaries, allowances and other benefits and entitlements of Parliamentarians and Cabinet Ministers.
Prime Minister Douglas pointed out last August, that although he has inherited the practice, he always felt very uncomfortable sitting in Cabinet and deciding on salary increases for Members of the Cabinet and Members of Parliament.
I do not think it is appropriate for Cabinet Members and Parliamentarians to set their own salaries. Cabinet Members have therefore, in this same vein decided to subject their own salaries and allowances to review by an independent commission that would make the necessary recommendations as to what levels of increase, if any, they should receive, Prime Minister Douglas said last August.
