(Trinidad Express) Increased salaries for the Prime Minister and other public officials will take effect from February 2025, according to a Comptroller of Accounts circular.
The circular, dated January 24, 2025, was issued to permanent secretaries, heads of departments, the Chief Adminis-trator of the Tobago House of Assembly, and heads of statutory bodies.
It outlines the revised accounting arrangements for the remuneration of public office holders under the purview of the Salaries Review Commission (SRC).
The directive follows the Ministry of Finance Circular No 11, issued on December 23, 2024, which set forth the revised salaries, allowances and benefits for office holders.
The SRC’s 120th report was laid in Parliament in November when Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced that the Cabinet would accept the report and the proposed salary increases for office holders such as the President, Prime Minister, ministers, Opposition Leader, parliamentarians, members of the Judiciary, senior public servants such as heads of the protective services, permanent secretaries, members of the Tobago House of Assembly, and members of commissions, among others.
Rowley said he was accepting the responsibility—“and maybe the wrath”—of those who gave him the responsibility of Prime Minister. “I bear that cross without fear of retribution,” he said.
Although there had been debates in the past on the SRC’s report, it is not required. As such, the Cabinet approved it, and in December 2024, the Finance Minister issued a circular that outlined the revised salaries, allowances, and benefits.
Increases outlined
With respect to the Prime Minister’s salary, the report stated that, with effect from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2023, the Prime Minister should receive $80,000, and from October 1, 2023, his monthly salary should be increased to $87,847. A back payment amounting to about $1 million before tax will also be paid.
The report stated that the President, whose current salary is $67,270, should receive an increase to $73,920 with effect from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023, and to $81,170 from April 1, 2023.
The Opposition Leader’s current salary is $29,590 per month. The SRC recommended that, with effect from October 1, 2020, the salary of the Opposition Leader be increased to $47,500 and then to $52,159 from October 1, 2023.
The Comptroller of Accounts circular mandates that Government ministries, departments and statutory agencies implement the revised compensation packages, which include the incorporation of Duty and Special Duty Allowances into base salaries.
The changes are retroactive to:
• October 1, 2020, for the Prime Minister’s Duty Allowance.
• April 1, 2020, for Duty and Special Duty Allowances for other office holders.
Revised salaries and allowances for Members of Parliament, the Chief Secretary of the THA, and other office holders will be effective from October 1, 2020, and April 1, 2020, respectively.
The circular states that office holders will retain benefits that have been discontinued or reduced as long as they remain in their current positions.
However, this does not apply to recipients of Duty and Special Duty Allowances.
Tax exemptions
Additionally, revised rates for Motor Vehicle Loan Facilities, Tax Exemptions and Subsistence Allowances will take effect from December 23, 2024.
Ministries and agencies are required to compute and process arrears of salaries and allowances in accordance with specified worksheets. The arrears must be accurately calculated and clearly recorded in the accounting system, with payments to be made in the current financial year.
The circular stated that the revised salaries and allowances will be uploaded into the Integrated Global Payroll/Integrated Human Resource Information System (IGP/IhRIS) to facilitate payments beginning in February 2025.
It noted further that the updated remuneration packages are subject to standard income tax deductions.
Government agencies were advised to ensure adequate funds are available to cover arrears payments; and where additional funding is needed, ministries are directed to liaise with the Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance.
