Analyst: UNC will use SRC report against PNM in election campaign

UWI political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath says the recommendations in the Salaries Review Commission's (SRC) 120th report to give huge increases to a number of public officials could become an issue in the next general election.

In an interview on November 30, Ragoonath hinted it may have an influence on the fortunes of different parties in the election.

At a post-Cabinet news conference at Whitehall on November 28, the Prime Minister said government would accept the recommendations in the report.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other UNC members have rejected the recommendations and said they should not be implemented.

Ragoonath said the PNM is more advanced than other parties with respect to its election preparations and already has candidates on the ground.

To date, the party has selected 13 prospective candidates.

They are Dr Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim (Barataria/San Juan), Richie Sookhai (Chaguanas East), Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal (St Augustine), Leena Rampersad (Caroni East), Mukesh Ramsingh (Pointe-a-Pierre), Kheron Khan (Fyzabad), Anil Ramjit (Tabaquite), Roshan Ramcharan (Couva South), Brent Maraj (Couva North), Winston Mahabir (Chaguanas West), Adam Hosein (Caroni Central), Beatrice Bridglal (Mayaro) and Lisa Atwater (Moruga/Tableland).

All these constituencies are currently represented in Parliament by the opposition UNC.

The PNM will hold another screening at its Balisier House headquarters in Port of Spain on December 2 for constituencies where it has incumbent MPs.

While the PNM has candidates on the ground in opposition-controlled constituencies and is hoping to make inroads there, Ragoonath said it remained to be seen whether or not they would.

He said Cabinet's decision to accept the SRC's 120th report "to some extent puts the PNM on a back foot to even get their constituents and their supporters to understand why it is that the Prime Minister and members of Cabinet could get a raise in pay of the quantities and percentages that they are getting, as opposed to the man on the ground, who is required to take a four per cent (wage increase) and be happy with that."

The report proposed salary increases for public officials including parliamentarians and members of the Judiciary.

Among the increases were salaries of $87,847, $81,170 and $52,159 for the Prime Minister, President and Opposition Leader respectively.

Their current salaries are $59,680, $64,270 and $29,590.

Ragoonath added PNM candidates contesting UNC-held constituencies could face uphill battles in trying to justify that decision to voters.

He saw the UNC using the SRC report as an election issue against the PNM.

But Ragoonath added, "The PNM will be banking on the fact that they know the country as well as anybody else and they know their base: the PNM base will continue to support them regardless of what happens."

Ragoonath said the PNM is guaranteed of its core support "going out there and voting for the PNM."

Legal sources last week said once the report's recommendations are implemented, all office-holders covered by it must accept their new salaries and conditions.

But they added these people could do whatever they want with their salaries and benefits once they receive them.

Ragoonath was uncertain how the UNC would deal with any new salaries or back pay its members received, arising out of the SRC's recommendation.

"The most important thing is that they came out publicly and said they will not support the increases at this point in time."

Last week, three UNC MPs – Rushton Paray, Dinesh Rambally and Dr Rai Ragbir – said they would use their salary increases to help their constituents.

Other UNC members, including Persad-Bissessar, have not indicated what they would do with any salary increases or benefits they receive arising out of the SRC's recommendations.