The combined opposition this evening voted to cut $150M from the Office of the President’s proposed budgetary allocations for contracted employees.
The motion which was in the name of AFC’s Khemraj Ramjattan was supported by APNU after MP Carl Greenidge withdrew a motion on the same line items. The opposition plans a series of cuts this evening before the final vote on the budget is taken.
Ramjattan, who said the salaries of the top 121 contract workers at OP were extraordinarily high, was shouted down by members of the government side as he attempted to give the reason behind the motion.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance Juan Edghill cautioned that the House should not be used to settle scores as it would be a “sad day.”
In answer to questions Edghill had disclosed that the consultant on climate change receives around 3,250 pounds sterling per month (around $1M), the advisor on Information Technology receives about US$15,000 per month ($3M) and the advisor on sports $721,000 a month. The advisor on education receives $421,000 per month, the advisor on governance $907,000 per month and the Head of the Presidential Secretariat receives $891,000 per month. A policy advisor on land and development receives just over a $1M a month. The lowest salary paid to a contract worker is just over $40,000 and is for a boat captain.
Greenidge said that APNU would support the AFC motion because there has been a lack of transparency and it is difficult to understand the logics behind the employment.
The vote count is 33 for the opposition and 32 for the government.
