By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

HOUSE of Assembly Speaker Dr Kendal Major yesterday urged Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Perry Christie to “have mercy” on parliamentarians by considering raising their constituency allowance.

Describing what he sees as the insufficiency of the allocated $1,500 a month that parliamentarians receive for the management of their constituency offices, Dr Major said: “Members have often complained to me about the constituency allowance and how it has not served its purpose, particularly those who may not have a ministry that they are responsible for.”

Parliamentarians, particularly those from the opposition party, applauded his remarks as he spoke.

Mr Christie, who is expected to deliver the government’s budget communication next week, said he will take the speaker’s recommendation into consideration.

Dr Major added: “Maybe I’m speaking for Garden Hills, but I think I’m speaking for the entire House that we have great difficulty in the constituency allowance that has been provided and the chair will certainly like to admonish and encourage for some type of increase that would go a long way in assisting us in hiring staff and doing work that we would like to do to better assist our constituents.

“So I just take the opportunity to make a plea on behalf of the members of Parliament whom I have the privilege of leading from this place, that the right honourable member have mercy on the members of Parliament and increase the constituency allowance, both the ($50,000) and the $1,500 because it has just been a difficult experience.

“ . . .We have some agreement here, and so we need not pass a resolution, the resolution is passed. As a matter of fact, the clerk reminds me that the committee that dealt with allowances have made that decision and made that recommendation and I think we are moving full speed ahead, so I thank you in advance, honourable members.”

In the past, MPs have said the monthly office allowance is not enough to cover rent, utilities and the payment of staff. The annual constituency allowance of $50,000 that MPs are given is used for capital works and other projects in respective constituencies.

In response, Mr Christie said the suggestion would be considered.

“We will take into consideration the recommendation, suggestions that you made with respect to making it a little bit more equitable, not comfortable, but equitable for members of Parliament who are now faced with consequences of having to now go into their pockets to subsidise representation in terms of being given an office, being given some contribution toward their office but having to pay electricity bill, having to pay for staff,” he said. “It is really an inordinate burden on members of Parliament and as the minister of finance, Mr Speaker, I’m sure (we) will take that into consideration as we move forward.”

Mr Christie also urged the speaker to examine the need for a new Parliament building.

“And I just would want to say in that context that I would expect, Mr Speaker, that in your leadership of the House of Assembly and really Parliament that you would examine the need as you have in part this morning to move to modernise the facilities of the House of Assembly, including recognising that a Parliament is a fundamental institution of the country and it’s like having good highways,” he said. “It’s something that is beyond debate and beyond acrimonious debate. It is something that becomes a monument to the democracy that has been in existence for hundreds of years now and it is therefore important to us to recognise that going forward.”

Parliamentarians have faced criticism in the past for seeking to increase the money they receive and to have a new Parliament building constructed.

A government-appointed select committee recommended last year that the Christie administration build a new House of Assembly complex during this parliamentary term.

The committee also recommended an increase in salaries for MPs and the deputy speaker along with an increase in the monthly constituency office allowances from $1,500 to $2,500. That report also recommended that constituency allowances be set at $100,000.

The recommendations prompted a firestorm of criticism on social media, with commentators arguing that the country faces too many fiscal constraints to provide more money to elected officials.

Members of Parliament are paid $28,000 a year.