According to Mr. Asis Gajadien, the members of the newly elected parliament will automatically be given the status of non-active civil servants by law, which means they will not be able to claim any monetary benefits for civil servants, and this also applies to all ancillary positions within the civil service.
"With this measure, we say goodbye to artificial additional income for good," Mr. Asis Gajadien declared. "It is now legally stipulated that those who serve in The National Assembly should not receive ancillary compensation through the state." Gajadien submitted the initiative proposal last November.
Parliament went through an intense debate before the law was passed unanimously. Public outrage over chamber members rounding up additional salaries above their monthly compensation (over SRD 130,000) was the proverbial straw. The new regulations unequivocally establish in Article 25 that transition to parliamentary office results in suspension of previous civil service rights and duties, including salary and emoluments.
Core concept of the law is "function neutrality": the MP may not hold any administrative or supervisory role within any government body from State Council to Board of Commissioners. Only independent, non-government enterprises may continue to exist independently alongside being an MP.
Mr. Gajadien further calls for full transparency: "Members of Parliament should publicly record side activities. Otherwise, any illicit income falls under the rubric of corruption." DNA Chairman Ashwin Adhin confirmed that hidden side jobs will be given short shrift.
Ebu Jones (NDP) identifies practice challenges. His consulting contract with Grassalco appears to have been negotiated not directly through the state, but through his private firm. "I will waive it, although that may create legal complications," Jones said, pointing out that unilateral termination could be a breach of contract.
The new law sets the tone: equal pay for equal work and non-partisan grassroots representation will henceforth take precedence over financial self-interest.
