A hefty hike in the salaries of high court judges and an impending increase in the emoluments of members of parliaments have prompted a call for the payment of salaries to senators, who currently serve the legislature on a voluntary basis.

“I do not envy them, nor do I covet their allotment, (but) I think the treatment (of senators) is unfair, unreasonably and palpably discriminatory,” said Opposition senator, Ossie Harding, at Friday’s sitting of the Senate. Harding, the longest serving senator, was president of the Senate during the Edward Seaga regime in the 1980s.

Harding’s concerns are not new, as he has continuously argued that Jamaica was among a few Commonwealth countries that fail to pay members of the review chamber in the legislature a salary rather than a token stipend.

Jamaica, currently, is adhering to the British tradition, where members of the House of Lords, hold their position through privilege rather than pay.

Senator Burchell Whiteman, leader of government business, supported Harding’s position, pointing to the important role that the Senate plays in the enactment of legislation.

Said Whiteman: “I believe that the role of senators and the responsibility of the office of president of the senate now require a second look and a more considered analysis.

“(This is) because the level of work required and the position held by the parliament and the esteem with which persons both locally and abroad view the parliaments of democracies like ours. I do want to support Senator Harding on the point. And he knows that I will continue to agitate on his behalf.”

Earlier during Friday’s sitting the Judicial (Salaries) Order, 2002, was tabled and set out the new salary payable to judges effective April 1 this year.

The order, signed by finance minister, Omar Davies, proposes an average salary increase of 16.68 per cent annually for five categories of senior judges. Puisne judges, the lowest rank, received the biggest increase of 20 per cent, moving the annual salary to $3 million followed by an increase of 18.18 per cent to the salary of senior puisne judges, taking it to $3.25 million per annum.

The Chief Justice and the President of the Court of Appeal each received an increase of 14.28 per cent, which moved their annual salaries to $4 million; while appeal judges had their annual salary moved to $3.5 million following a 16.66 per cent increase.

The salaries of members of parliament, ministers of government and parliamentary secretaries are expected to increase this year by the same rate of increase as that of civil servants.

During the last financial year, Prime Minister P J Patterson received $2.3 million as basic salary plus a little over $1 million per annum for his duties as member of parliament (MP).

Finance Minister, Omar Davies, received $1.87 million, while other cabinet ministers received $1.73 million per annum. Violet Neilson, Speaker of the House received $1.63 million for the year, while Opposition Leader, Edward Seaga received annual salary of $1.5 million.

MPs are paid just over $1 million per annum for basic salary.