ST ANN, Jamaica — Ian Bell, the People’s National Party (PNP) councillor for Beecher Town in St Ann has unapologetically declared that he will happily accept his share of the recently announced salary increase because, in his view, he deserves it.

Bell has also described as fortuitous his purchase of a luxury vehicle before the salary bump, lest critics mistakenly assume the pay hike was spent on the car.

He made it clear that his Mercedes Benz was not purchased with “poor people money”.

“When it comes to Ian Bell, my heart and my hands are clean,” he said.

Speaking during a PNP Divisional meeting in St Ann on Sunday, Bell said the work he has put in over the last decade and a half makes him more than worthy of the salary increase, especially when he compares the work done by councillors elected on a Jamaica Labour Party ticket.

“The last election, nine of them over on that side [were] new councillors and me down here 15 years now and a hard labour me [doing]. If they [will] get the money [I will too],” he said.

This year’s salary hike for civil servants came out of a controversial compensation review that saw some politicians getting a raise of more than 200 per cent while other categories of workers received significantly less. In a show of solidarity with some members of the public, who have vociferously complained that the process was unfair, PNP president Mark Golding announced he would donate 80 per cent of his salary increase.

READ: Golding donates 80% of retro salary increase to charities

Prime Minister Andrew Holness also announced he would not accept 100 per cent of his salary hike.

READ: Holness giving up his salary increase

On Sunday, Councillor Bell said the increase in his salary would go towards helping his constituents.

“I have more to bury dead when I get this money. I have more school fees to pay when I get this money. I have more zinc to buy and ply to buy when I get this money,” said, before taking a swipe at JLP councillors who he said would spend the money on themselves.