Paita to expose MPs’, ministers’ salaries, benefits

The National Main Stories

FINANCE Minister Rainbo Paita has promised to make public how much MPs and ministers get in a fortnight as salaries, benefits and allowances.
He told The National that he would provide the details in a written statement.
“One thing that distorts the debate on whether an MP is paid enough or been over paid is that our system of government is the western system but our leadership style is Melanesian,” he said.
“So how do you make the two compatible? One is that we have a system that does not recognise the extra customary relationship we have with our voters.
“That definition does not exist in the western system. For example, comparing me with a minister in England or somewhere who don’t even get to meet their voters.
“They use media platforms and people see the policies and vote for them. For me, I have to walk around and visit my voters.” Paita said it was a “communal leadership, social leadership”.
“When there’s a fight, you have to be the first one there. When there’s a feast, you have to be the first one there. So it’s a confrontational leadership.
“If you there’s a hauskrai, we have to contribute.
“So the MP will always be thinking of how can I win back my seat in the next election if I don’t turn up and contribute?”
Paita said voters would ask to have roads built or assistance for boat fares, school fees and medical fees.
“It would be okay if it was one person. But we have so many people, thousands of people asking us for assistance.
“This is a system that has been in place since independence.”
He said these were things that people must understand.
“I guess, you just have to be a Member of Parliament to understand this.”

8 comments

  • On the other hand’ the MPs have tge power to put an end to this culture…and tbey dont simply because they fear loosing votes. Its good to note that our good minister has the courage to tell us that because of these expectations/obligations MPs can promote handouts, laziness among our people, and even corruption among politicians to manage these expectations. Does the minister realise that everyone who has a paid job in PNG manage the same expectations/obligations everyday, even wothout a DSIP/PSIP or a wage at levels they enjoy

  • I strongly condemn the ministers to ask for an increment in their salaries. As published sometime last year by honorable Bryan Kramer on what a minister without portfolio is earns, is already way too much. Stop giving these excuses of expectations by your voters. It is really a slap on us tax payers, as we have got to get a pay rise, which we haven’t and you puppets see fit to increase your own at our expense. Total insult

  • Members have PSIP and DSIP which should be used to meet all these election commitments. Not all members pull out one K1 and give to some one who marked an x during his campaign. A member usually uses his/her money with all new friends he/she meets in the Parliament House who are not his voters so lets please be honest and stop this nonsense. You go to a members house and see in his yard, there will be more than one van parked in his yard. Did he worked hard for this. Free airline tickets on invitation or business trips with free dinners,Travelling and Accommodation Allowances….This is totally unfair to ask for an increase in your salary when your pay is 1000 times more than a simple public servants salary. Where is justice….

  • Minister, you are right in highlighting the clashes of leadership philosophies but that does not give the MPs and Ministers an excuse to ask for more and exemption from taxes. To minimise the issue of families and supporters asking for financial assistance from their elected member is for the MPs to develop their respective districts using the DSIP and other development funds. When there is tangible developments in the districts, this will create an opportunity for people to generate their own income and become self-reliant. They will take care of their problems and will not keep coming to the MP for financial assistance.

  • Is that why Marape appointed you as Minister of the Government Coffers so that you could sit there and look for petty excuses to give an increment to yourself and your fellow MPs? As far as the populace is concerned, you are all over-paid for doing nothing. In the first place, you alone chose to become MPs for whatever reasons known only to yourselves. If you stood to fill your own pockets, maybe an increment is just what you need now!

  • If this government are kind enough, why not they increase the minimum wage rate to K5/ Hour for the sake of low income earners.

  • Seems like our good minister has been advised by his fellow MPs not to go on with the idea of exposing salary. I’ve read similar comments from previous MPs in past news articles giving the same explanations!! well Mr Minister what you say about MPs giving out handouts to retain their seats, don’t you think the correct term to use is BRIBERY,

    Why not cut down on your salaries and expose them to the public so that voters will know how much you earn and will stop bothering you to keep spoon feeding them! If we want change in this country we all need to start sharing information in “broad daylight”

Comments are closed.