A proposed wage increase for Grenada's Public Sector Workers was announced on Sunday at a New National Party (NNP) political rally. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, who said the increase is a sacrifice the government is making on the people’s behalf. Workers at the lower level will enjoy increases of 6 percent for 2006, 5 percent for 2007, 5 percent for 2008 and 5 percent for 2009. Workers at their middle level will receive 4 percent for 2006, 4 percent for 2007, 4 percent for 2008 and accept 4 percent for 2009.Workers at the upper level will receive 3 percent for 2006, 3 percent for 2007, 3 percent for 2008 and 3 percent for 2009. Mitchell indicated that, if the negotiating team for teachers and policemen agree, they will also receive similar increases in salaries. But the President of the Public Workers Union (PWU), Madonna Harford, said the government and the union did not finish negotiating and they have not come back for a final discussion, since the union had to take the proposal back its members to determine whether they would accept or reject the proposal made by the government. The NNP political leader also addressed the "briefcase matter" for yet another time. Mitchell said he has done nothing wrong and all he did was accept what was his money. He reiterated that the money allegedly handed over to him in a briefcase by convicted fraudster Eric Resteiner was his own money. “It's my damn money so what you all worried about,” he said. Resteiner allegedly paid US$500,000 in cash to Mitchell in Switzerland on June 25, 2000, which was said to be partial payment for Resteiner's appointment as an ambassador, according to Resteiner's former Director of Security, Timothy Bass. Mitchell has admitted receiving cash from Resteiner at the meeting but he claims it was between US$12,000 and US$14,000 and was not a personal pay-off but was to cover the expenses of a Grenada delegation during a trip to promote the country. The last announcement made by Mitchell concerned the general election. This is the New National Party’s fourth year of their 3rd term in office and Mitchell said his party is oiling their machine in preparation for the polls. Mitchell told his supporters they must get registered, since they are monitoring the registration process. He said, while he is not ready to pull the trigger, he urges his supporters to be on their marks. Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com