Bring politicians pensions in line with others, says trade unionist

By Jenique Belgrave

Veteran trade unionist Caswell Franklyn believes the pensionable age for politicians should be brought back in line with that for most workers.

Speaking with Barbados TODAY, the head of the Unity Workers’ Union (UWU) was clear that it was time for the disparity to end and for the playing field to be evened out regarding when persons could access their pension.

Currently, members of the House of Assembly are eligible for pension at the age of 50 or get two-thirds of their salary in pension after two terms in office. The pensionable age for the majority of other workers in the country is 67 but the Government intends to move it to 67 ½ in 2028 and to 68 in 2034.

“They all started at the same place, and the reason why they carried up the other people’s own was because people were living longer and other various things. So if the playing field was uneven for one group, it should be uneven for the other, and if it is level for one, it should be level for the next,” Franklyn said, insisting that successive governments had made the system more generous for politicians than for the public they serve.

Explaining how the age had incrementally increased for the majority of working Barbadians but decreased for MPs, the trade union leader said: “The legislation for parliamentary pensions began in 1969. At that time, it was synchronised with the public service pension age as well because, in 1969, public servants were allowed to retire at 55, so the politicians also were allowed to retire and receive their pension at 55. Over the years, successive governments have increased public servants’ retirement age from 55 to 60 to 65 to 67.

“So it all started in 1969 at 65, but somehow, they can get theirs now at 50 because they reduced it to 50 and think that that is fair. I don’t understand it,” he added.

Franklyn criticised the wait-and-see stance being taken by Prime Minister Mia Mottley on the matter.

At a press conference last Friday, she agreed that the pensionable age for politicians should be increased “significantly” and expressed the hope that the Parliamentary Reform Commission which is, among other things, examining the terms and conditions of parliamentarians, will address it in its report due at the end of the year.

“That is nonsense. Why didn’t she wait on the opinion of the public to deal with the National Insurance issues too? That is a ruse,” Franklyn charged.

Winding up for another march this weekend to protest the Government’s intention to increase the pensionable age, he said the message was resonating with many Barbadians here and abroad, as several persons have come forward to make various donations to the movement spearheaded by the UWU, the Steering Committee and the Marcia Weekes Show.

He is expecting Saturday’s event to have bigger numbers than the previous two marches.

The ‘Leave We Lifeline Alone’ march will begin at 10 a.m. at Kensington Oval and is scheduled to end at 1 p.m. at Independence Square.

jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb