OPPOSITION MP Michael Dunkley says he will donate any increase in his salary to charity.

The United Bermuda Party deputy leader added that he felt "extremely uncomfortable" about the controversial pay increases and that it was "outrageous" that Government was now attempting to "ram the legislation through".

The pay increases, which will see Premier Alex Scott's salary leap a massive 80 per cent to $200,000, were passed by the House of Assembly earlier this month with support from all Government MPs. The Opposition voted against the bill.

But in a surprise move on Wednesday, Government Senate leader Larry Mussenden once more deferred any debate on the hikes which will now go before the Senate in two weeks.

Writing on the Limey in Bermuda web site, Mr. Dunkley said he believed the increases would eventually be rejected by the Senate, but added: "I will tell you that I will not accept it.

"If it goes through my increase will go to a charity and at that time I will let people know what charity just so people can see that I really did donate.

"In spite of what some might think, I consider myself a person of integrity, one who will stand up for what is correct and take pride in the values that I was taught during my youth.

"In this case I am most uncomfortable about voting myself anything other than a cost-of-living increase. It is not my money, it is the people's money and we must be accountable for it and to the people. I am not playing politics with this issue. It has been handled poorly by the Government and I can't go along with it.

"In the past when yearly cost-of-living increases were approved I was uncomfortable with it but did not make a big fuss as the increase was only keeping up with inflation. I cannot accept this proposed change unless it is done by an independent group that looks at the entire matter.

"The remit of the group that made the report to the House was too narrow and did not cover all matters. They did interview the entire Cabinet, some PLP backbenchers and only one UBP member was invited to give a view.

"In addition, while I agree that salaries should be reviewed I have a problem with not also putting in some new levels of accountability for MPs. In the past some MPs never showed at the House but got paid. Is that right?

"I believe that with increased pay should come increased standards of performance. In the past people got involved in politics to serve the island, not to get rich and make a career out of it.

"While one should be compensated fairly for the work they do we also need to be assured that we do not allow our elected officials to become too fat and happy with a position and thus never be able to remove them! Will I accept the increase? In time you will find out if the increase goes through."

Speaking to the Mid-Ocean News yesterday, Mr. Dunkley said he believed some party colleagues were also willing to hand over any increase in income to charity.

And while he stressed he was not opposed to a salary review, he said any increase should be implemented after a General Election, when at least some of the politicians who voted on the issue would no longer be in office.

"This has been very badly organised and there just has to be a better system in place," he said.

"If you are the owner of a company and want to award yourself a huge pay increase then that's one thing, but politicians are not the owners of a company. The annual cost of living increase that MPs get is really no big deal but increases of this size are just outrageous."