PNP Gov’t Member accuses Opposition Leader of “Cheap” Politics

Dana Malcolm 

#TurksandCaicos, December 21, 2023 – Jameka Williams, Government Appointed Member of the House of Assembly, is challenging the Leader of the Opposition for what she described as ‘cheap political tactics’ highlighting his previous and current stance on increases in pay for Members of the House of Assembly.

“Last week in the House of Assembly, the Leader of the Opposition presented what some may describe as his most passionate speech arguing that the Integrity Commission increased the salaries for Ministers and members of the House of Assembly by an exorbitant amount. In my rebuttal, I pleaded with the Leader of the Opposition to retract his statement, and to discontinue using cheap political tactics to mislead the public into thinking that he was not an advocate and supporter of the salary increases— I reminded him of a previous House sitting where he was advocating for salary increases for members, ” Williams posted to Facebook.

After being accused of “lying” by Astwood, Williams provided what she described as evidence of the Opposition Leader Astwood, a three time member of parliament, lobbying for an increase in another clip from the House of Assembly

“Myself [I] have never shied away from dealing with this topic. There is a lot of noise out there in the public that my parliamentary colleagues are bad people– they are only in here for the salary— I beg to differ, and the proof is in the pudding. I am being hard on my parliamentary members but they are all good people and I know they’re in it for the right purpose,” the Leader of the Opposition said.

The Opposition Leader, on December 13, had decried the increases which range from $25,000 to $49,000 thousand per year. Astwood said his ire was turned toward the size of the raises, not the actual need for a raise.

“I want to tell the members of the public, this increase was never about you! Sorry. Let’s see who got the biggest benefit,”  he continued “I am ashamed, and if you all need to take away my money, take it away, you can’t miss what you ain’t had!” he had said.

Williams, who is one of the four un-elected, appointed members of the House of Assembly, will get a pay increase of $24,700 per year, taking her annual parliamentary income to $97,500 though she has no set constituency.

Astwood points to a more conservative jump in the annual pay, but Williams has accused him of being disingenuous.

“You were not genuine and your statements were only made to jump on any bandwagon that you erroneously believe will get you some political mileage. Mr. Leader of the Opposition this will not give you or your party, the PDM, brownie points at the next general election,” she maintained.

Astwood had maintained that while an increase was necessary, the figures quoted were exorbitant.

“I have to let the public know, I ain’t no hater. I’ve been a minister but some things are a little too much. Let’s take care of the people at the bottom first. [Us] at the top? yes, we should be getting something- give us $10,000– something that we can manage, we already make a lot of money.” Astwood had advised during his speech.

“Be a man of your word, you are not fooling anyone. Whenever you try to mislead the public and use cheap political tactics, I will expose you” Williams promised.

Astwood has already issued his rebuttal, remaining adamant that the people believe the pay increase is too much and so does he.

“Therefore, I make no excuses for expressing the feelings of the people that I represent in the House of Assembly. That is what we are being paid to do and will do just that.   So, it is “a sin and a shame” that this current PNP government is giving themselves such huge raises; while not wanting to do the work of representing the people.”