Dear Editor,

The debate about the prime minister’s salary increase has been reopened.

Many have argued that the increase is too much, given rising prices, taxes, and generally low salaries in the public and private sectors. The truth is Prime Minister Andrew Holness is taking what was offered to him years ago, which he delayed. We all knew it was only a matter of time.

I doubt the prime minister would’ve announced he was taking the increase prior to the general election in September 2025. Ironically, the increase is retroactive to September 2025.

No one is saying an increase isn’t in order, it is the size of the increase measured by value, accountability, and performance that matters. We are forgetting that Members of Parliament, ministers, the Speaker of the House, the Opposition Leader et al, all got significant increases, as much as two to three times their base in 2021. Even the governor general received a huge jump in salary.

I’ve heard calls on Nationwide News Network for the governor general to step down with dignity after the senior Sir Allen was seen struggling during the recent opening of Parliament. The governor general’s salary is among the highest in the Commonwealth, not far behind the governor general of Canada.

Context matters, however, and a country’s size and economy, measured by metrics such as gross domestic (GDP), should allow for what is reasonable and affordable compensation. It is not surprising that the governor general, like other seniors in public service, continue to cling to an office which comes with lucrative salaries and perks.

In 2023, there was an article in one of the newspapers in which a political commentator labelled the increases as “unconscionable”, “arrogant”, and insensitive”. He also slammed the governor general’s $34-million salary, asking the question: “For what?”

When the increases were announced, there were public protests and much debate about the new compensation package for politicians while other public sector groups were not as comfortable.

In the last general election, which returned the Jamaica Labour Party to power, voters endorsed the status quo with much celebration. It is confusing what is causing the uproar now as the prime minister’s salary increase was known years ago and no one expected him to waive the increase forever. He got the mandate to continue and he is doing just that, and more, as well as taking what is due to him as compensation.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com