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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : Govt defends $ 32M re...groups (RJR)...</span>
The government has sought to clarify reports about Parliamentarians receiving a retroactive payment of outstanding motor vehicle allowances.The reports have resulted in staunch criticisms from the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union which has declared that the payment sends a bad signal to public sector workers.The Jamaica Police Federation has also reacted angrily to the reports.However, the Ministry of Finance has sought to clarify the issue saying Parliamentarians were not paid retroactive monies.In a release Wednesday afternoon Senator Arthur Williams, State Minister in the Finance Ministry, said the sums were outstanding motor vehicle allowances which were due to Members of Parliament (MPs) dating back to April 1, 2006 and therefore, it is unfair to link that payment to outstanding salary increases owed to public sector workers.Senator Williams pointed out that MPs, like other public sector workers, are also subject to the public sector wage freeze.According to Senator Williams, it must also be remembered that Government MPs also had to give up 10% of their salary and the Prime Minister 15%.Senator Williams further noted that Parliamentarians are the only group in the public service who did not receive payment for the allowances due in 2006.$32M paid out The State Minister also gave a breakdown of the persons to whom the outstanding motor vehicle allowances of $32 million was owed.He said 19 former MPs in the last Parliament, were owed these monies for the April 2006 period to the time of the general election in September 2007.Of this group, seven are owed for mileage only, and 12 for both mileage and upkeep.Senator Williams added that this includes payment to be made to the estates of two MPs who are now deceased.Also on the payment list are 18 MPs who first became Parliamentarians in September 2007 and are owed for that period to now.Of that group, Senator Williams said five are owed for mileage only, and 13 for both mileage and upkeep.Thirty seven MPs, who spanned both Parliaments, from period April 2006 to present, also received pay-outs - 13 are owed for mileage only and 24 for both mileage and upkeep.Senator Williams noted that all public sector workers have received the allowances due to them from 2006.He said the only outstanding amount for general allowances to public sector workers are for the 2008 to 2010 contract period.The State Minister added that the Government has paid $1.6 of the $3.1 billion that was outstanding for general allowances for the 2008 to 2010 contract period and intends to pay the balance as soon as is possible.
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : Govt defends $ 32M re...groups (RJR)...</span>
The government has sought to clarify reports about Parliamentarians receiving a retroactive payment of outstanding motor vehicle allowances.The reports have resulted in staunch criticisms from the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union which has declared that the payment sends a bad signal to public sector workers.The Jamaica Police Federation has also reacted angrily to the reports.However, the Ministry of Finance has sought to clarify the issue saying Parliamentarians were not paid retroactive monies.In a release Wednesday afternoon Senator Arthur Williams, State Minister in the Finance Ministry, said the sums were outstanding motor vehicle allowances which were due to Members of Parliament (MPs) dating back to April 1, 2006 and therefore, it is unfair to link that payment to outstanding salary increases owed to public sector workers.Senator Williams pointed out that MPs, like other public sector workers, are also subject to the public sector wage freeze.According to Senator Williams, it must also be remembered that Government MPs also had to give up 10% of their salary and the Prime Minister 15%.Senator Williams further noted that Parliamentarians are the only group in the public service who did not receive payment for the allowances due in 2006.$32M paid out The State Minister also gave a breakdown of the persons to whom the outstanding motor vehicle allowances of $32 million was owed.He said 19 former MPs in the last Parliament, were owed these monies for the April 2006 period to the time of the general election in September 2007.Of this group, seven are owed for mileage only, and 12 for both mileage and upkeep.Senator Williams added that this includes payment to be made to the estates of two MPs who are now deceased.Also on the payment list are 18 MPs who first became Parliamentarians in September 2007 and are owed for that period to now.Of that group, Senator Williams said five are owed for mileage only, and 13 for both mileage and upkeep.Thirty seven MPs, who spanned both Parliaments, from period April 2006 to present, also received pay-outs - 13 are owed for mileage only and 24 for both mileage and upkeep.Senator Williams noted that all public sector workers have received the allowances due to them from 2006.He said the only outstanding amount for general allowances to public sector workers are for the 2008 to 2010 contract period.The State Minister added that the Government has paid $1.6 of the $3.1 billion that was outstanding for general allowances for the 2008 to 2010 contract period and intends to pay the balance as soon as is possible.