Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
December 05, 2007 (CUOPM)
Federal civil servants and pensioners in St. Kitts and Nevis are to get an interim five percent salary increase next payday, retroactive to January 1st 2007, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas announced on Tuesday.
Government which gave a 10 percent salary increase in January 2004, undertook to ensure that the terms and conditions of service of its employees would be reviewed periodically with a view to adjusting such terms and conditions at least once every three years, based on the results of a comprehensive professional review.
“Hence a review should have taken place in 2006 to permit an adjustment of the terms and conditions of service of Government employees on January 1st 2007. We did not do it, but that review is currently ongoing. We have engaged the services of CARICAD in Barbados to examine the compensation of Government employees and to advise Government as to an appropriate pay increase,” Prime Minister Douglas said at his monthly Press Conference.
Dr. Douglas said it was unfortunate that the review is taking much longer than expected mainly because of the expanded the terms of reference of the Consultants to include a review of job descriptions and job specification, as well as the development of a comprehensive manpower plan to ensure that the modern day public service is adequately positioned to play a proactive developmental role in the dynamic environment in which it operates today.
“Unfortunately we strongly believe that Government employees must not be made to wait any longer. The exercise was given in July this year. They work hard and they deserve due reward and recognition for their outstanding service. Hence, I am pleased to advise that Cabinet at its meeting yesterday, approved a five percent interim pay increase for all Government employees with effect from January 1, 2007. The retroactive payment in respect of the period January 1st 2007 to December 31st 2007 will be paid during the course of this month,” said Prime Minister Douglas.
He said that the Cabinet has requested the consultants to expedite the review so that Government “can decide definitely on the level of the increase during the course of 2008.”
“If the increase accepted by the Government, based on the report of the Consultant is higher than the interim increase, we will during 2008 approve a further retroactive payment to adjust the 5 percent upwards to the final level of the increase approved by Government,” Prime Minister Douglas.