Political will behind salary hikes absent for
Claude Skelton Cline Talk show host Claude Skelton Cline has defended the salary increases awarded to members of the House of Assembly, but warned that the same political will should have been use...
Claude Skelton Cline Talk show host Claude Skelton Cline has defended the salary increases awarded to members of the House of Assembly, but warned that the same political will should have been used to address the long-neglected benefits of retirees across the territory. Speaking on his Honestly Speaking programme, Skelton Cline said two major concerns stand out: the manner in which the compensation packages were developed, and the absence of measures to support retired public servants. “The compensation package seems to have been done in some clandestine manner, in some informal committee.
And that should have been brought to the forefront,” he said. “Secondly, though it is an increase for the House of Assembly members, it does not seem to be commensurate with our retirees. The same political will and force was not used to ensure that our retirees also receive proper compensation.” The comments come in the wake of the Auditor General’s latest report, which scrutinised the new pay structure for legislators and raised questions about transparency, process, and timing.
The report reignited public anger over the steep hikes for elected officials while many residents face economic strain. Skelton Cline acknowledged that the numbers themselves are not unreasonable, noting that legislators had gone more than two decades without meaningful adjustments to their salaries.
Up until recently, some backbenchers earned as little as $34,000 a year plus allowances, which he said created vulnerabilities to corruption. Still, he urged the public to pay attention to the fact that on this issue, there was no division among lawmakers. “One thing is sure about that compensation package for the House of Assembly,” he said. “The 13 members may not agree on anything else, but they certainly agreed on that.” The outspoken commentator also challenged residents to reflect on their outrage, pointing out that voters often re-elect the same leaders they criticise. “Even some of you who are expressing outrage, you are going to turn around and vote these same people back in office in 2027,” he said.
The debate over lawmakers’ pay has become one of the most controversial issues of the year, with the Auditor General’s report underscoring public demands for fairness and accountability in how decisions are made.
Primary source: BVI News