Manning: Government fully supports salary increases

Manning said Singh made a case for a higher salary for an MP but, right now, an MP receives a salary of $10,000 a month, and with the SRC’s recommendations, will get a $4,000 increase.

Noting that there is an element of public service in an MP’s role, he said politics must not be pursued for fame, power and fortune. And, contrary to Singh’s claim, an MP’s job is not a full-time one, he added.

He said under the Westminster system, which we follow, a Government backbencher is authorised to do other jobs.

"And when salaries are determined, that is taken into account," he said. To laughter from members, the Prime Minister then revealed some of the UNC MPs who held other jobs. "If Petrotrin would cut the salary of the Member for Couva South (Kelvin Ramnath) he would cry race.

"Mr Speaker, the Member for Caroni Central (Hamza Rafeeq) is a doctor who conducts a practice and gets an emolument from it.

"I understand he also owns a pharmacy."

However, this jerked Rafeeq to his feet to announce that his wife owns the pharmacy, not him.

Manning’s eyes then fell on Nariva MP, Harry Partap, and he said, "I’m sure the MP for Nariva has only one job. Mr Speaker, nobody else will employ him.

"And I notice that the MP for San Juan/Barataria (Dr Fuad Khan) was late. I’m sure that surgery just finished," Manning said, to laughter.

"Mr Speaker, they can’t come to Parliament and say they’re not being paid full-time. An MP’s job is not full-time."

The Prime Minister said, with the exception of two amendments, one dealing with constituency allowances, the Government fully supports the salary recommendations of the SRC.