The Salaries Review Commission is coming under criticism from political analyst Dr Indira Rampersad, who is questioning the legitimacy of the methodology used to determine the proposed salary increases for public officials.
The Commission has proposed that the Prime Minister’s salary be increased from $59,680 to $80,000 per month.
The SRC also proposed that the opposition leader's salary move from $29, 590 to $47,500.
And the President's salary would go from $64,270 to $73,920.
Political Analyst Dr Indira Rampersad says while an increase was due, using a compensation survey is arguable. She also is of the view that the Committee had challenges.
“I don’t want to say that it was politicised and there was politics at play, and the Prime Minister fixes himself, or the Opposition fixes herself, because this [report] is actually coming from a so-called independent body—the Salaries Review Commission, established by the President,” she said.
“What we see coming out is outrageous. It is ludicrous,” she maintains. “To me, the methodology is fundamentally flawed.”
Dr Rampersad believes there was no consideration of the cost of living for citizens and the impact that these increases would have on the psyche of the population, which currently is facing a higher cost of living with little movement in their salaries.
“We see no reference to cost-of-living index—retail index, in particular,” she points out. “You look at the increase in the price of food from 2013, as well as the increase in transportation, and in housing. Look at the increase in the cost of fuel, and now we have an increase coming in electricity and purportedly on property tax.”
She added: “I am not seeing those factors or those indices playing a part in this report.”
The political analyst, who was a guest on today’s edition of CNC3’s The Morning Brew show, also is questioning the legality of the proposed pay cuts for members of the Judiciary, which she described as “alarming”.