UWI political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath says the recommendations in the Salaries Review Commission's (SRC)120th report to give huge increases to several public officials, could become an issue in the next general election.
In an interview on November 30, Ragoonath hinted that it may have an influence on the fortunes of different political 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 of these constituencies are currently represented in Parliament by the opposition UNC.
The PNM will do another screening exercise 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 several 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 respective 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."
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