Dear Editor,

In 2023, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness declared that despite salary increases across the board in the public sector he will continue to collect the old salary of approximately $9 million annually.

In declining the salary increase, Dr Holness said that a prime minister “with a new mandate could always review the position”. Well, Prime Minister, you have your new mandate and I strongly believe it is time you take the increase.

I believe it is simply unfair and ridiculous for a man who I view as the hardest-working prime minister in the history of Jamaica, who has delivered major results in several key sectors — including record decline in poverty, unemployment, and murders — to be earning way less than his Cabinet ministers.

The highly politicised narrative concerning salary increases across the public sector failed to capture the fact that people at all levels, including administrative workers, maintenance personnel, principals, and many other cohorts, also received a doubling and in some cases tripling of their take-home pay.

I believe Dr Holness should not have made the decision to decline the salary increase during his previous term. But perhaps he did so due to his recognition that political mischief was at play, including from so-called independent commentators, regarding the long overdue increases in the public sector.

The long and short of my view is: Prime Minister, very respectfully, time come. Take the salary increase! You deserve it and have earned it.

Brian Nunes

briannunes712@yahoo.com