Almost two dozen citizens yesterday picketed the Ministry of the Presidency over the 50% pay hike for Cabinet members, which they said should be reconsidered.
Activist Karen de Souza, who was among the members of Red Thread who participated in the protest during the course of the morning, denounced the increases.
“We think that both the increase and the manner in which it was done is rude, disrespectful and out of order,” de Souza declared, while adding that the attempt by Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman to justify the increase was both weak and inadequate.
Trotman, who was the latest government spokesman to attempt to defend the move, told reporters on Wednesday that the increases were “fair” and “necessary” and intended to ensure parity between salaries paid to members of the executive, legislature and judicial branches of government.
de Souza noted that the actions of the coalition government in this regard do not reflect the promises made during its recent election campaign, when it said significant increases would be put in place for public servants. Public servants were given a 5% increase in this year’s national budget, effective from July.
“Government has to understand that majority of the people live on or below the poverty line… and that has to be addressed,” de Souza stressed.
“The promise was for a good life for all… we not seeing any evidence of