Opposition Senators are urging the Government to reconsider its decision to adjust senators’ per meeting stipend from J$53,000 to J$148,000 per meeting.

In an email to the clerk of the House of Representatives today, Senator Peter Bunting, leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, strongly objected to the proposed increase because of its timing and the current national context.

“We firmly believe that such a significant increase in stipend for senators is neither justifiable nor appropriate, particularly at a time when crucial issues affecting essential public servants – such as police officers, healthcare workers, and teachers – remain unresolved. The nation is closely observing the Government’s approach to addressing these critical matters, and such a substantial increase for senators appear out of touch with the realities faced by the rest of Jamaica,” Bunting argued.

He is proposing for the Ministry of Finance and Public Service to reallocate the funds to areas where it can have a more positive impact on the lives of civil servants.

Bunting said that he has also reached out to the president of the Senate, Tom Tavares-Finson, to express the Opposition’s objection to the increase.