Bishop Dr Alvin Bailey, head of the Holiness Christian Church of Jamaica and a prominent leader of various church fraternities on the island, suggests that Jamaica is on the brink of anarchy.

In a release on Wednesday, the clergy pointed to what he said were daily evidence in the country of moral decay, a leadership crisis and selfishness of parliamentarians, and argued that the cries of the people are going unheeded, which he said could lead to a rise in discontentment among the working class.

“Jamaica is facing the greatest leadership crisis since Universal Adult Suffrage. Our present political leaders have acted unjustly and have failed to give priority to the well-being of their constituents, as they turn blind eyes and deaf ears to the voices of the people.

“So the people have lost confidence in their government and there is widespread feeling of mistrust and betrayal for our political leaders. In fact, none – on either side of the political divide – can claim to command the full respect and moral authority of the Jamaican public at this time,” said Bishop Bailey.

According to the outspoken clergy, the 200-plus per cent salary increase granted by the government to parliamentarians is an example of a series of self-serving negotiations which has resulted in a cold and calculated strangle hold on public sector workers who cannot afford the everyday basics as the rate of inflation increases and the cost of goods and services reach sky high.

“But those in political power, who have been called on by the public to roll back the salary increases, remain oblivious to the protests and the calls even from national influencers,” Bishop Bailey said.

He urged the prime minister to give instructions to the Minister of Finance to roll back the recent hike.

“This defies democracy and is nothing short of dictatorship,” Bishop Bailey said.

”The prime minister needs to show Jamaica that he has the authority to lead. Also, leaders of the Opposition must publicly support a roll back and be prepared to halt their participation in government until that is done,” he concluded.

The huge salary increases – in some cases, by more than 200 per cent – for politicians have been met with widespread backlash since they were announced in Parliament by Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke last month.

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The increases to parliamentarians will cost $1.7 billion over three years.

Following public outcry, Prime Minister Andrew Holness gave up his massive salary increase that would have seen his pay balloon to $28.6 million in April 2024. Instead, he will remain at his current salary of roughly $9 million and will not therefore receive any retroactive payments.

Opposition Leader Mark Golding had earlier announced that he would be giving up 80 per cent of his 240 per cent salary increase that would have seen his pay jump to more than $25 million by next April, to charitable causes. He announced Tuesday that he has made good on his promise.