Instead of salary increases for politicians, the money should be spent on initiatives to uplift communities and curb crime.

This statement came from Caroni Central MP Arnold Ram during a UNC Cottage Meeting in his constituency last night.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that the Salaries Review Commission has proposed pay increases for a number of public office holders including the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader.

However, last night Mr Ram urged government to prioritize the needs of the citizenry and use the money to mitigate poverty.