Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre presented to the parliament, the Estimates of Income and Expenditure and the Budget Appropriation Bill for 2024-2025, both of which had been debated and passed in both houses of parliament.
Indeed, the Appropriation Address recounts the exodus or liberation of God’s people, the Israelites, from bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land.
This article is the first in a series of articles to be published on the Prime Minister’s Appropriation Address. The content of the articles may not deal with the issues in the order in which they were presented by the Prime Minister.
The Budget address is entitled: Building Our Infrastructure for a Resilient Economy. The Primary objective of the address is to achieve sustainable economic growth and wealth creation for our people.
Now in order to achieve that goal, his government will pursue some key policies.
Indeed, in his policy address, the Prime Minister announced a minimum liveable wage to be paid to workers in St. Lucia. The Prime Minister also announced that the minimum pensions payable to government pensioners will be increased to $725.00. These changes are expected to take effect from August 1, 2024, Emancipation Day.
Now, the prime minister revealed that there are government pensioners who earn $300.00 monthly.
Indeed, let us investigate the issues of pensioners and pensions.
Who is referred to as a pensioner? A pensioner is a person who receives a pension or money paid by the government or private sector of a state.
Indeed, the fact that a pensioner earns $300 monthly, indicates that that worker was earning a salary of $600 monthly, prior to his or her retirement. In St. Lucia, a pension is actually 50% of one’s salary prior to retirement.
Now, historically, salaries paid by government and the private sector had been very low. This factor had led Sir George Frederick Lawrence Charles, one of our first national heroes, to gain popularity in our land. Sir George FL Charles was declared a National Hero in February 2015.
Indeed, Sir Charles was very unhappy with the wages and salaries paid to workers at the time, and fought vigorously to improve wages and salaries to sugarcane and banana workers and those who laboured in the coal mines of St. Lucia.
Additionally, he earned the title of First Chief Minister of St. Lucia when his government won the first election after Adult Suffrage was granted in 1951.
Now Adult Suffrage was a proclamation declared by the British Parliament, giving St. Lucians the right to vote and to elect a government of their choice.
Indeed, the struggle for increase wages and salaries have gone on for decades in St. Lucia.
As a member of the public service, I can recall the number of persons who fought vigorously for improved salaries and working conditions for government workers. I recall persons like Sir Calixte George, Laurie Auguste, Wilkinson Larcher, now deceased, Hilary Darcheiville, Wilcina Haynes and Agatha Jn. Panel, among several others. That struggle led to a 59-day strike by public officers in 1979. I can remember being teargassed by police in the William peter Boulevard during the 1979 strike by public workers.
Let me give you an idea of salaries of public workers in the 1970s. Allow me to select cases from the Teaching Service which I was a part of at that time. A teacher trained and qualified from the then St. Lucia Teacher’s Training College during the period 1970 to 1979 was earning $240 a month. A pupil teacher who was starting off in the teaching service earned $60 a month. He or she would receive $59.96 after deduction of stamp duty. That is what I received as a beginning teacher. We worked extremely hard, educating the children of our nation.
Indeed, the very important point I wish to make now, is that the teachers who retired during the period I have indicated above, received a pension of $120, which is half the salary of $240.00. This is no joke! So when the Prime Minister indicated that there are pensioners receiving $300 a month, I know that that is the truth.
Indeed, Prime Minister Philip Joseph Pierre and his government came into power on the premise that his government would ‘Put people First”. And the prime minister is doing just that, and doing an excellent job of it!
Prime Minister Philip Pierre is continuing the legacy of Sir George F L Charles. Not just that, in a previous article, I indicated that Philip the disciple and apostle was chosen by Christ to distribute ‘bread and fish’ to the multitude. Now, that’s a serious responsibility!
Indeed, I wish to point out, that government pensioners have not received an increase in their pension for decades. And Prime Minister Philip Pierre has indicated, in his Budget Policy address, that from August 1, 2024, Emancipation Day, that will change.
Now, the PM has indicated that government pensioners would now receive an increase in their pensions commensurate with an increase with public servants when that is negotiated in the future.
No doubt, pensioners are looking forward to some ‘brighter days’ ahead.
No doubt, pensioners, whether public or private, have made a contribution to the development of St. Lucia. Indeed, they made many sacrifices for us who now inherit the island.
Indeed, it is only fair that pensioners be given the attention that they deserve at this time in the history of our nation.