Premier of Nevis and Minister of Finance in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Joseph Parry, urged Civil Servants and government workers to be prudent in their spending and to be mindful that the Administration cared for the people of Nevis, in the face of a 7.5 percent salary increase scheduled to be paid out on September 18, 2008.

Mr. Parry made the comment while he announced the pending increase in a televised address on NTV Channel 8 on September 12, 2008.

?I am pleased to announce that the Cabinet of the Nevis Island Government has approved an increase of 7.5 percent in salaries and wages to all civil servants and government auxiliary workers. The increase is retroactive to January 01, 2008, and is to be paid on the 18^th of September with the September pay roll?

?We do really want Civil Servants and government workers to enjoy this increase to be prudent in spending and to know that the Nevis Island Government cares for the people of Nevis,? he said.

The Premier explained the break down of the payment and noted that the pay increase was part of an earlier decision taken at a Federal level.

?Please note that the present salary and wage bill includes pensions and is $3.775 million. The decision of cabinet will increase personal emoluments by $283,000 to $4.058 million for future months. However, due to the fact that the 7.5 percent increase will be made retroactive to 1^st January, 2008, the increase for September will be $2.548million. For the month of September, the Nevis Island Administration will have to pay out a total sum of $6,323,323.92.

?This payment is part of a decision that has been taken at Federal level and at Nevis island level and this is a continuation of a decision that was made last year when a five percent increase was given, I think it was around the month of May,? he said.