Last Updated on December 27, 2019, 9:31 AM AST by Anthony Morris
No double salary for ZBC staffers, Echo Park workers; Nevis Premier and Federal Minister Brantley received four salaries
It was indeed Black Friday for employees of ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) and The St Kitts Echo Park, said to be among civil servants and workers of statutory bodies who were not paid a double salary on December 13, 2019.
The disclosure that the ZIZ employees were not paid Buckie first revealed their double salary Got It and later confirmed by other sources that the ZIZ staff was not among government employees paid a double like their counterparts at quasi-government institutions including the St Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), the National Housing Corporation (NHC), the Development Bank of St Kitts and Nevis and St Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board.
According to multiple sources a senior government official has privately stated that “ZIZ employees do not deserve a double,” said to be the same position as the Office of the Prime Minister.
One source pointed out that in the past ZBC employees were paid at the same time when double salaries were paid. “Look out for someone to say that the reason why ZIZ employees were not paid a double on December 13, was because their pay date is different from the government’s pay date.”
It has also been confirmed that employees at The St Kitts Eco Park and several civil servants who were placed on suspension have not been paid their double salary either.
While most public officials and government ministers on St Kitts and on Nevis were paid a double salary on December 13, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation, Hon. Mark Brantley, who is also Premier of Nevis, went home with four salaries – two from the Federal Government and two from the Nevis Island Administration – amounting to EC$60,000.
Earlier this month several civil servants protested that they have not profited from the full payment of the double salary as a consequence of what is regarded to be a purposeful effort as documents sit on the desk of Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Dr Timothy Harris awaiting permission for months.
Civil servants who have come back from studying abroad a few months ago and have presented certified copies of their degrees are still longing for the necessary acknowledgement which will see not only a change in positions but also in salary.
Numerous of them have been notified that letters have been posted to the Ministry of Finance, but months later, permission resides on the desk of the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
“The problem is that it’s been months now and our applications have yet to be recognized. When we call our line ministries, we are told that there is a backlog at the Ministry of Finance and they are not sure when it will be dealt. This is of high concern to us because other colleagues in several ministries and we are still awaiting a shift our status and pay, for last year,” said civil servants stirred by the level of inadequacy.
“The frightening part is that double salary was paid in December and people in our ranks would not be benefitted. The double salary will be paid based on our current pays with no guarantees of a ‘back pay’ including the dividend from the double wage,” the gathering who demanded anonymity for fear of victimization.
“I see this to be an injustice for students who come back home and have students credits to pay,” a member of the organisation said.
“Gangsters are getting paid huge sums of cash, and members of ‘the family’ are paid thousands a month and don’t hold the required eligibilities. Yet, law-abiding citizens who chose to advance their individual and academic development, cannot harvest the privileges of their labour,” another said with additional members nodding in agreement.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
