By Lesroy W. “Williams Observer Reporter
” (Basseterre, St.Kitts)”Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris, has said that public sector salaries and allowances do not compare favorably to what prevails in the private sector and therefore are to be re-aligned and re-graded upon the recommendation of a consultant by 2009. The Finance Minister’s comments were made at a press conference on October 2 at the Ministry of Finance Conference Room. He was joined by the Financial Secretary, Mrs. Janet Harris, Deputy Financial Secretary with responsibility for Budget, Mr. Calvin Edwards, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Ambassador Roslyn Hazelle, Director of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Howard Richardson, and Consultant in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Donald Cable. Minister Harris’s comments came after the announcement by Prime Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas on September 10 that civil servants and pensioners were to receive a 7.5 percent salary increase from September of this year which was to be retroactive from January. The government engaged a consultant in the person of a Mr. John Pilgrim to provide an independent evaluation of salaries in the public sector, Mr. Harris said. The draft report entitled “Salary Survey and Framework for Pay Increases for Public Sector Workers in St.Kitts and Nevis” was completed in August 2008 and presented to the government in September 2008. “The Consultant recommended that government should increase salaries in the public sector in a phase basis starting in 2008. The government has accepted this recommendation and as a consequence we have paid out $8, 046, 251 million in retroactive payments; $5, 839,889 in salaries; $1,363,610 in wages; and $842,752 in pensions. The consultant further recommended that government consider a 7.5 percent increase in years 1 and 2 and a regarding exercise in 2010,” Mr. Harris said. In 2007, public servants and pensioners received a 5 percent increase in their salaries.””” “The government believes that it is urgent that we regrade and reclassify all jobs in the public sector and as a result we will propose that the reclassification and regrading exercise take place in 2009 rather than in 2010 as recommended by the Consultant,” Mr. Harris said.” In 2009, government will review the range and level of other benefits such as health and insurance benefits, telephone and travel allowance, he said. “The government is committed to treating our public sector workers fairly and equitably taking into account the growth and development in the economy and the public sector to this growth and development,” Mr. Harris said. Mr. Harris made a call for all those who owe the government to pay up. “It is important that all persons indebted to the government make every effort to settle their indebtedness to the government or enter into arrangements to settle this indebtedness.” Mr. Harris thanked civil servants for their service to their country and recognized the important roles played by the Customs Department, Inland Revenue Department, and Accountant General Department for the major roles that they play in the collection of governmental revenue.
