Hinkson says parliamentarians need better terms and conditions

By Dawne Parris

A Government backbencher has called for improved benefits for Parliamentarians, lamenting that the existing allowances, terms and conditions are inadequate for the work Members of Parliament (MPs) are required to do.

Edmund Hinkson contended in the House of Assembly on Tuesday that what those individuals here receive pales in comparison to what is offered to politicians in other parts of the Caribbean.

The parliamentary representative for St James North highlighted the lack of benefits such as health insurance for MPs and even made a case for those Parliamentarians who are also in the Cabinet to get two salaries.

“Ministers of Government who are MPs get the same salary as Ministers of Government who are in the Senate who don’t have a constituency,” Hinkson noted, adding that the allowance of $2 500 a month given to MPs is insufficient.

“The public needs to be told that Members of Parliament don’t get anything at all from the Government for their constituents.”

In stark contrast, he said, MPs in Trinidad and Tobago are provided with TT$50 000 (BDS$14 883) monthly – spending for which they must give account – to fund projects and employ people in their constituencies.

Hinkson added that similar arrangements exist in other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries.

“We don’t get any of that, so we have to be begging about for…roads to be paved after 30 years,” Hinkson lamented. “If Members of Parliament are given money, as in other countries, you won’t have to be begging about welfare and ministries to the extent that we have to be doing.”

Hinkson pointed to other benefits given to politicians elsewhere in the region as he highlighted what Barbadian MPs and Ministers of Government lacked.

“MPs don’t get any health insurance, unlike in Trinidad where the Members of Parliament get up to TT$200 000 (BDS$59 533) a year in health insurance paid for by Parliament. Ministers don’t have any drivers… whereas that is standard in many Caribbean countries – Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica. In Jamaica, Ministers of Government have maids, gardeners, butlers, all of that.

“In Trinidad, you bring in duty-free cars…every three, four years…. We don’t have any of those terms and conditions, not one of them.

“Even support staff…. Unless you are a Minister of Government . . . you don’t have a personal assistant. In Trinidad, you have about four employees, there are offices in the Trinidad Parliament for Members of Parliament. Here, you have to be scotching up somewhere and if a minister has a meeting you have to leave,” Hinkson said.

He contended that extending similar benefits to MPs here would assist the people they represent.

For example, he said, “a personal assistant for every member of Parliament is not a personal benefit; it helps with the representation of your constituency”.

Hinkson stressed that while the public was of the view that politicians receive massive salaries and live a life of luxury, that was not the case.

“This is hard work, this is sacrifice on the part of your families…your finances. Many … probably made more money in their careers before they came into politics than they made in politics,” he said.

“I believe it is our fault – politicians on both sides of the political fence – for not explaining to the public the full gamut of what we are called to do on salaries that, compared with other countries in the Caribbean, are not commensurate.”

Hinkson made the comments as the House of Assembly paid tribute to the late Reverend Dr Joseph Johnny Tudor and attorney-at-law Ezra Alleyne who previously served as MPs and Reverend Canon Ivan Harewood who was Chaplain of the House of Assembly for almost 30 years.

The St James North MP raised the issues as he noted that Tudor was able to obtain gratuity and pension despite falling a few days short of serving a minimum two terms in Parliament – caused by early elections in 1994 – as a result of amendments made when Prime Minister Owen Arthur’s Barbados Labour Party won the general election. (DP)