Although former president Bharrat Jagdeo is slated to return to the National Assembly as opposition leader for the PPP/C, he will not be receiving both a presidential pension and a salary as a Member of Parliament, according to Second Vice-President Khemraj Ramjattan.
During his address on the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Bill 2015, which was passed by the government on Thursday, Ramjattan noted that the law makes it clear that where a former president becomes entitled to a salary as a legislator, then the pension would no longer be payable during that period.
According to Ramjattan, the Pensions (Presidents, Parliamentary and Special Offices) Act does, however, stipulate that if the pension exceeds the salary, the difference would be paid to the former president.
“Notwithstanding there being an argument that he has to be paid both pension of $1.4M and his leader of opposition salary, which I think is another six, seven hundred thousand, to bring it to two million dollars, that’s not going to be the case. And in any event, this administration will not double dip for that former president…,” Ramjattan said.
“So, I want to make that clear. So that if My Jagdeo or any other former presidents feels that’s the case, no,” he stated.