Edghill revises Ministers’ salary increases upwards of $1B
Former Minister within the Finance Ministry Bishop Juan Edghill
…pleads for impartial hearing in ‘Parliamentary Court’
Former Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill, on Friday appeared for the first time before the Parliamentary Committee of Privileges and has maintained that the salary increases Government handed itself and ministers, is not just close to $1 billion but with the inclusion of a new Minister (Valerie Patterson) the toll on the treasury has now exceeded the billion-dollar mark.
Edghill was hauled before the Committee of Privileges – akin to a court – to answer allegations that he had abused his privileges by misleading the National Assembly when in December last he computed the salary increases to take a toll on the treasury of almost $1 billion.
The former Government minister, now in the Opposition benches, appeared before the Committee on Friday – chaired by Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland – where he presented his revised computations to include the salary paid to the coalition Government’s newest Minister Valerie Sharpe-Patterson.
Bishop Edghill presented to the Privileges Committee a document containing his original computations of what the salary increases would entail, providing a total of $964,486,521.
He also submitted computations with the inclusion of the new minister – who was appointed after the initial December 2015 debate – and the total figure to be charged against the treasury has climbed upward to $1,001,350,194.
Outlining Friday’s appearance before the Committee as the first occasion “to have been afforded a deserving opportunity to be heard and understood since this matter has attracted much public attention,” Bishop Edghill categorically denied, “that I had any intention to mislead the House or deliberately misinform as it relate to the statements I made in relation to the Motion that was tabled.”
Appealing to the Chairman, Committee members and by extension the electorate, Edghill said: “I wish to assure that I would not have done anything that could have brought my integrity, honour and dedication, as well as commitment to the Oath I took in the National Assembly into dispute or question.”
According to the former minister, “It is with that understanding that I appear here today and I hope that my statement and explanations would be received within that context and looked at in a fair, impartial and independent manner, regardless of which side of the National Assembly you sit.”
Looking to contextualise the entire salary fiasco, Edghill drew the Committee’s attention to the Motion he had moved last December, calling upon the Government
Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland
to annul order related to the salary increases since, “I considered an act to unduly enrich Ministers of the Government and place a burden on the public purse.”
According to Edghill, “It is my understanding that the increases as were purported by the Government and reported ad nauseam in the media would have resulted in taxpayers footing a tumultuous bill of almost an additional $1 billion when compared to the cabinet of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government at the time of demitting office in May 2015.”
Edghill recalled that he was asked to withdraw his computations but did not yield to the request because, “I held the view that my statement was fair comment and based upon the details available in Order No 16 of 2015, I acted responsibly during the discourse of my debate.
The former minister is adamant: “My figures were not plucked out of the sky or manufactured… And had the tone of the debate been more civil, with less unnecessary interruptions and adequate time offered, greater details could have been given to the House and the avoidance of this unnecessary outcome and abuse of process.”
Edghill’s party – the Peoples’ Progressive Party/Civic – upon hearing of him being summoned to appear before the Parliamentary Committee, had signalled anticipation at not having a fair hearing since, “we are of the view that the Government, along with a Speaker who is yet to demonstrate impartiality, will ensure that the process is less than fair.”
The political Opposition has since voiced its support for its MP saying, “Bishop Edghill is not alone, as all of his colleagues are in full support of him and join in rebuking the Government’s misuse of the Parliamentary rules and procedures, as well as its continued disregard for standing Parliamentary norms and traditions.”
