MPs appointed to salaries and remuneration commission

THREE MPs have been sworn-in as members of the salaries and remuneration commission to look into the salary issues for political leaders.
In a ceremony at the Government House last Friday, Parliament Speaker Theo Zurenuoc, Public Service Minister Sir Puka Temu and opposition MP Tobias Kulang were sworn in by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio.
Zurenuoc is the commission’s chairman, Sir Puka is the member representing the prime minister and Kulang is representing the opposition leader.
“Their main task is to consider benefits for all leaders, elected ones being all the politicians and constitutional office holders such as judges, provincial government members and local level government members,” according to commission’s executive officer Bagita Jack.
He said the three MPs were responsible for determining the salary benefits for the leaders which they would present to parliament for endorsement.
Jack said the chairman would serve for five years while the other two MPs’ terms depended on the position of the government and the opposition in parliament.
“If a new government comes in, then there will be a new member representing the prime minister and a new member representing the opposition leader in the commission,” he said.