Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:15 hours 26 min ago
Kamla calls for reduction in ministers’ salaries
‘Cut it now’
Published: 15 Sep 2009
Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the
House of Representatives yesterday.
Photo: Shirley Bahadur
Prime Minister Patrick Manning and all his Government ministers should cut their salaries by half. This is the view of Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissesar.
“If sacrifices are needed now, then they should be made by Government first,” she said. “Cut it and cut it now. Cut their salaries.”
She also called on Government to make public the salaries of all the chief executive officers (CEOs) of State boards and special purpose companies, appointees and special advisors and institute cuts in their pay as well.
The Siparia MP was speaking during her contribution to the 2009/2010 budget debate in the Lower House yesterday.
“I am calling on the Government to also cut the salaries of all the CEOs and executive directors of all the State and special purposes companies in half.
“Yes, in half. In fact, I want a fixed salary rate to be instituted for them,” Persad-Bissesar said. “And then, regularise these salaries so they work for the same amounts like permanent secretaries.” She also said the chairman of the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Petrotrin), Malcolm Jones, earned an income of $75,000 each month and the CEOs of other state enterprises such as the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Nidco) received a salary of at least $50,000 a month.
“The millions of dollars saved should be put toward purchasing hospital beds, medicines, providing water, upgrading drainage, repairing roads and bridges, renovating the most dilapidated schools and providing other tangibles, directly improving the lives of our people,” Persad-Bissesar said. “I don’t expect this Government to do so, however,” she added.
Good start then lock up Hart
Good start then lock up Hart and Manning! Like only if you name Panday you get lock up in Trinidad and Tobago.
Ryan4Party
Kamla on a Roll:- Kamla, you
Kamla on a Roll:-
Kamla, you are one smart politician. You missed the train - but you can still catch the 'early bird' to serve your people and country.
Lady, you are asking this "PNM Administration" to cut the salaries of their favourite sons and daughters in half, and make public the salaries of their other favourite sons and daughters? Mr. and Mrs Manning for starters will tell you 'not on your Nelly'.
The savings could be put to better use upgrading our essential services - health care, hospital beds, schools, roads, water supply, infrastructure, etc. Thats a good thing.
When the Jamaicans took a 15% cut, and the same was asked of the Manning's admin. they shrug off such an 'brazen' idea. Never! We were told there is no need to do that as we were not in a 'recession' and that we had money, etc.
In the U.S. the salaries of all gov't officials, CEO's etc. are public information. We are pushing for first world status, so why not take on this practice also.
Our Manning picks and chooses what he likes; that which would serve his interest; and rejects the rest.
Kamla, go girl! And remember it is never too late - don't let your talents go to waste.
We are now up to three...
We are now up to three...
So, we have MP Kamla Persad-Bissesar calling for cuts in salaries, Messers Rowley and Warner saying no to the excessive spending and the proposed property tax.
Any of their other colleagues willing to get vocal about what is happening here in Trinbago and the impact it is having on their constituents?
La Diva
Am I alone here? Just let
Am I alone here?
Just let the man with the biggest "Heart" make an anonymous deposit into the Central Bank and wipe away the national debt.
Raise everybody salary after that.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
Not only Gov't salaries but
Not only Gov't salaries but also Opposition and Senators since they not really making any profitable contribution, they bump their gum and then it's the same "7 day mentality" where everyone forgets about the issues and goes about their own business
Why only Government
Why only Government Ministers? The entire Parliament Ms. Bissessar. Don't try to pull the wool over our eyes! What is good for the goose is good for the gander. I want you and your Opposition colleagues to feel the pinch as well. Get a taste of what citizens experience daily.
I agree totally that ALL
I agree totally that ALL those in Parliment should start the ball rolling by taking a major cut in their salaries. The saying that the poor is getting poorer and the rich, richer is very true. Why is it that the Government is expecting the majority of the citizens to pay for their stupidity and they should be exempt from contributing. Something has to be done and SOON.
Unless I am mistaken
Unless I am mistaken
Opposition MPs earn less than the Government MPs? If I am also not mistaken (and I could be on this point, so please do not quote me (^_~)), each Committee MPs are on, they get an additional allowance/salary? I believe/suspect that Government MPs also getting certain allowances that are not available to the Opposition MPs?
Therefore, in the grander scheme of things, it would appear that there is more scope to cut/trim Government Ministers salaries than there is to cut Opposition MPs.
Can someone provide the figures please, for clarity, before jumping down Ms. Bissessar throat? Just a thought...
La Diva
According to the Guardian
According to the Guardian article from 18/07/09
http://guardian.co.tt/news/politics/2009/07/18/mps-salaries-frozen
PRESENT SALARIES
Prime Minister Patrick Manning—$48,000
Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday—$23,800.
President George Maxwell Richards—$49,500
Chief Justice Ivor Archie—$40,500.
Government Ministers—$33,000 (Cabinet), $27,300 (non-Cabinet)
Opposition MPs—$14,00. [I assume this must be $14,000 and not $14.00!]
Opposition, Independent Senators—$10,500.
THA CHief Secretary—$27,300.
Mayor (chairman of regional corporation)—$16,800
(POS) $14,700
(San Fernando), $13,700
(Chaguanas), $12,600
(Arima), $12,600
(Pt Fortin).
Councillor—$7,000
By the time you add in the 'housing allowance' for certain persons, it is not difficult to assume that certain people are actually earning quite nicely, due to the 'perks of the job'...
In some countries, they tax people in the corporate world who receive housing allowances, car/petrol allowances, company cars, drivers, a parking space, medical allowances/insurance...
La Diva
La Diva - Salaries:- I
La Diva - Salaries:-
I would assume that this would be monthly salaries, definitely not annual.
Plus add the benefits = a lot $$
Yes, my dear they do get paid extra for each committee, etc. they sit on, just can't quote the $$ for you.
I am sure a bright Sr. Civil Servant can enlighten us. How about it folks? You will be doing a service for your country.
.....
Moving off a bit, can you imagine the paycheque Mr. Caulder Hart get sent his way - He is on so many State Boards and Commissions.
Officially, we are paying this man more than our P.M. & President.
He could never imagine being compensated so lavishly in Canada!
Pay cheque?
Pay cheque?
Moving off a bit, can you imagine the paycheque Mr. Caulder Hart get sent his way - He is on so many State Boards and Commissions.
Probably more like direct deposit into his account! Am not sure there is enough space on a cheque to write out the numbers let alone the words! (^$^)
Getting back on track... it did occur to me that the numbers above are on a monthly basis rather than annual! That would have been wishful thinking (^_~).
In the unlikely event any government ministers are reading these comments. I do hope you are taking note as some of these comments and views are very likely to be shared by your constituents.
I know it must be hard, to sit from 10am through to midnight and be at your desk again next morning for 8am, meet with people who always seem to be moaning, have to attend ribbon cutting ceremonies on your weekends and attend concerts when you would much rather be at home with your families.
The fact is, the people are hurtin' and they are hurtin' bad and you (collectively) do not seem to be caring one sou about our concerns. That TT$$$ programme/purchase after TT$$$ seems to be announced almost every week without any impunity or embarassment; that questions about discrepencies remain unaddressed or, we are told you will bring in a consultant to verify the negotiations (red herring); that some of you think that all of a sudden there are lots of 'experts' - economic, political, accountancy, engineering, security etc - in the community is, I am sorry to say, arrogance in the extreme.
It really seems to me that the budget was ill-thought out, possibly rushed through. Afterall, with all the planning for the Summit and now the CHOGM, not to mention school holidays, various governmental functions, meeting with your constituents, visiting flooded areas, when did you really have time to look at the proposals and analyse them for the benefit of your consitutents? Come on. Really. Whisper it into my ear if you like.
In 2008, Ministries had to go back and revisit their budgets and find ways of cutting their expenditure (seems some were less creative than others... helicopters, diplomatic buildings...). It is not too late for 2009.
Someone in an article here made the comment along the lines of hindsight is a marvellous thing. But what about foresight?
But, what do I know? I am only a citizen of Trinbago, who benefitted from the foresight of Dr Eric Williams (free education) and the foresight of my parents to extend that education to lands a foreign, so that I may know Lilliput* only exists in Gulliver's Travels, amongst other things.
(* Lilliput - an imaginary country inhabited by people about 6 inches (15 cm) tall, described in Swift's Gulliver's Travels.)
La Diva
Kamla is on the right track.
Kamla is on the right track. It's an idea also being mooted in some other countries as one response to the downturn in the international economy. It's an area for making savings to help plug budgetary shortfalls. Other areas being considered are increasing the efficiency index, cutting unnecessary bureaucracy, removing unnecessary layers of management (more Indians & less Chiefs), reducing corruption, prioritising essentials, cutting back in non-productive sectors and so on. Lower salaries should result in paying less income tax, so everyone gains.
I am sure that Kamla did not mean a 50% cut in all salaries, mainly the top earners who would also be receiving generous allowances for housing, entertainment, transport, domestic staff, food, travel, low-interest loans etc etc. Maybe some of these perks could also be reduced or taxed. So the 50% could apply to those with top basic salaries and on on a sliding scale. But we need an actuary to come up with a suitable and equitable formula. And of course, these cuts should also apply to public corporations, state companies, the public service etc. What's a permanent secretary's basic pay these days? Probably not much different from a cabinet minister or a ceo? And no sacred cows, please. After all it's the public servants who come up with these bright taxation ideas to please their political masters.
Dat, and God face, you will
Dat, and God face, you will never see!!
Jumbie's Watch
Jumbie!
Jumbie!
Oh gosh man! Give the woman a chance nah, considering she even had the 'bold-faceness' to call for it.
Changing tack for a moment, hope you are well. I noticed you were quiet yesterday. (^_^)
La Diva
Hey, I commend the woman for
Hey, I commend the woman for calling for a reduction in salary... but to see the actual reduction coming forth? As I said, dat and God face, we will never see. (°_°)
As for not being around yesterday... 2 reasons. Assignments and I had to do a clean re-install of all my software on my PC. (^_^)
Jumbie's Watch
Sad reminders of a quote:
Sad reminders of a quote: "We can either have democracy in this country or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both." - Louis Brandeis
Sal Catharticus the Trini Zeitgeist
thezeitgeistmovement.com