Leacock argues for better pension for “Patel” Matthews

Vice President of the New Democratic Party (NDP), St Clair Leacock believes that former NDP Member of Parliament for North Leeward, Roland “Patel” Matthews was treated unfairly.

“Patel Matthews was done an injustice,” Leacock stated during the sitting of Parliament on Monday, April 28, 2025.

He was contributing to debate on the Garvin Jackson Pension Declaration Bill, 2025, which was laid in Parliament by Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

Jackson was an educator who taught at the Mountain View Adventist Academy, Richland Park.

In his contribution to the debate Leacock wondered aloud why the same courtesy granted Jackson was not extended to the former NDP Parliamentarian when his pension benefits were being calculated.

Matthews had served as a teacher before entering politics. He served two consecutive terms in Parliament as the representative the Constituency of North Leeward.

His service in Parliament ended after the 2020 general elections, when he was narrowly defeated at the polls by the Unity Labour Party’s Carlos James.

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