CJ Ivor Archie pleads for a better deal for judges

Edited remarks of Ivor Archie, as he made a case for a better deal for judges:

"Most of us will have taken a cut in income to serve the country and would have accepted that responding to the call for national service would entail a degree of personal sacrifice...

“By the same token, however, judicial officers would have had a reasonable expectation that their compensation package would be reviewed at regular intervals to keep pace with economic realities and the fact that the demographic of the bench has changed...

“We are now overdue for review...Most of us are still in the process of educating children and servicing mortgages. We have not had any increase in basic salary since 2005.

"This is particularly grievous since pension benefits are computed on the basis of basic salary alone and not on the aggregate of basic salary plus allowances...

“I am encouraged by the fact that the Prime Minister has expressed her concern that the judges be fairly and adequately compensated...

“I know that there are other negotiations currently engaging her Government’s attention and accept as genuine her assurance that we will not be forgotten...

“As we know, however, once the Prime Minister has done her part by advising His Excellency, the President to trigger the process of review, it then goes to the Salaries Review Commission (SRC). The SRC, which is an independent body under the Constitution, must do its work!”

“The fact that judges are not prone to marching and striking does not mean we should be expected to sit and accept whatever the SRC chooses to dole out without any meaningful discussion. It is meant to be a discussion, not a petition!

“We are entitled to the benefit of due process and good industrial relations practice just like any other citizens...we expect to be treated with respect."