Dr. Julian Hunte at press conference today.
Chairman of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) Dr. Julian Hunte has reaffirmed his party’s support for government’s five percent salary cut proposal for public sector workers, stating that the move is necessary to rescue the country falling into worse economic strain.
Hunte, at a press conference at his office in Mongiraud, Gros Islet on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 said that government’s actions are an indication of its commitment to the country as it seeks to save it from “the economic crisis it has inherited” and other contributing factors.
“The simple and harsh fact confronting us is that if action is not taken at this time, to reduce the deficit in government’s finances, then the economic situation will worse and St. Lucia will be forced to implement unpalatable and even more austere measures imposed bu insensitive, soulless international insttutions. This must be avoided,” Hunte said.
“The situation facing the government is not difficult to understand. It is comparable to that of the head of a household who has recognized that the household expenditure is surpassing the total income earned by the household, and that as a result it is in deep debt. It would then be natural to remove the debt and discontinue it from incurring it. The minister of finance, as head of the household, which is the public service, must therefore cut down on the areas of expenditure which have and are pushing the government into further debt. The largest of these areas is public sector salaries and wages,” Hunte said.
The chairman labelled the government’s salary cut proposal as both pro-worker and pro-country measures which were “forced upon the government” by circumstances.
Hunte noted that it is important that the population sees this move as a sacrifice which workers have to make for themselves and country.
“If the reality of a five percent salary cut is worked out in dollars and cents for each individual in the public service, it will be found that the actual amount each public servant is being asked to forego, to safeguard the jobs of all public servants, is small in context of their gross salary; but it is this combined small sacrifice of each person that will save the country. What is important is that it is a united effort by all,” Hunte stated.
He took the opportunity to call on opposition parties to provide “alternatives and credible solutions” to governments proposal “since the situation requires responsible action by all concerned.”
Hunte said he also welcomes government’s ongoing consultations with stakeholders.