Shaw criticises Davies

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Audley Shaw is accusing his predecessor, Dr Omar Davies of committing to a salary increase for public school teachers without cabinet approval.



He says in 2006, Dr Davies gave approval for a company to conduct a study to bring teachers’ salaries up to 80 per cent of those in the private sector, without cabinet endorsement.



Mr Shaw is charging that Dr Davies’ decision to unilaterally sign the agreement shows weaknesses in the decision-making process of the previous administration



According to him, the decision was made without consideration to budgetary constraints.



Mr Shaw laments further that the government will now be burdened with an additional $15 billion in salaries resulting from what he claims was an unauthorized agreement.



Several attempts to reach the former minister for comment were unsuccessful.



Last week, the Government made a new offer to teachers following weeks of negotiations between the Jamaica Teachers’ Association and officials at the ministry of finance.



Teachers are expected to vote on the offer at a special delegates conference on Saturday.



As part of the deal, teachers will receive retroactive payments in three tranches beginning in December and ending in June 2009.