The recommendation from one of the opposition members in the House of Representatives for an increase in the constituency allowance given to members of parliament, has been rejected by at least one member sitting on the government side, the MP for St. Paul, E.P Chet Greene.
Speaking in parliament on Friday, Greene said he ‘vehemently opposes’ any recommendation from the opposition for increases because in his view ‘they have not proven that they deserve it’.
Greene pointed to the empty chairs on the opposition side of the house, noting that too often the opposition MP’s find ways to stay away when parliament is in session.
“The Rural West MP mooted the idea of an increase in constituency allowance. I want to stand here and now stating unequivocally that I vehemently oppose that suggestion, most vehemently. Look, (pointing to the opposition side) they want increase, where are they. They want increase but don’t want to come to work. Mr Speaker, how can we justify to the people of Antigua and Barbuda, the tax payers, that people who don’t come to work, are getting increases,” declared.
He noted that except for the MP for St. John’s Rural West, who sponsors several students and who also engages in outreach programmes for people in the constituency, one cannot identify another MP on the opposition beach who has a sustaining programme that assists the people of their constituency.
He pointed to reports that one particular opposition member of parliament refused to assist a constituent who had asked him for assistance to help pay for school fees for her children.
“It’s Christmas time now, name one of them who is organizing Christmas parties in their constituencies. Each of us on this side does it every year, and not because we are in government; we did it when we were in the opposition too. Additionally, every year, we distribute back-to-school supplies for children in our constituencies but they do not,” he remarked.
He added that the government MP’s can make a case for an increase, but any increase would have to distributed across the board and this he does not support.
“I am prepared to suffer, notwithstanding all I do for St. Paul, or put it another way, I will continue to do what I have been doing with what I currently receive rather than see the opposition get an increase in constituency allowance that I don’t believe that they deserve,” Greene declared.
