Prime Minister Natario Wheatley stayed true to his word yesterday, June 29, when he introduced a motion to the House of Commons (HOA) to amend the controversial 2021 Retirement Benefits (Legislative Service) Amendment Act. .
The law essentially guaranteed a lump sum, honorarium, and salary to legislators for years to come, even if they were voted out of office after serving only a single term.
The bill, often referred to by some residents as the “greedy bill,” was met with vociferous opposition after its passage, but the then-previous government of Andrew Fahey was unfazed by the opposition and subsequent protests. .
During the campaign, Myron Walwyn, now a member of District 6, received a call to repeal the law, and other lawmakers jumped at the chance, promising to repeal or amend the law if elected.
Dr. Wheatley later promised during the campaign that he would waive any payment obligations to him as a result of the revised law.
“I’m going to stand up and say it was a mistake, and I’m going to stand up and say I’m not taking a penny,” Dr Wheatley said during the campaign. “I will not take a dime from my retirement in its current form, and if God wants it, I will.” [if] I have been given the opportunity to repeal the entire bill. ”
Yesterday, the 2023 Retirement Benefits (Legislative Service) Amendment Bill was added to the mandate during the second session of the House of Representatives and had its first reading.
While some lawmakers have pledged to make the HOA more transparent during the election, it is not immediately clear whether the new law’s provisions will be made public at any time during the process and prior to passage.
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