MPs last night passed a resolution to give Cabinet Ministers a ten percent pay cut, effective April 1.“It’s more symbolic than substantive,” conceded Premier Craig Cannonier, noting that the overall saving was relatively small.“But in our present economic and fiscal circumstances, it’s the right thing moving forward.”The Premier’s salary will decrease from $168,069 to $151,262 a year, for example, while the Deputy Premier’s pay goes from $125,491 to $112,942.Other Ministers in the House will drop from $112,046 to $100,841. The same pay is set for Ministers serving in the Senate.However, the Resolution stipulates that Ministers serving full-time in the Senate shall be granted a salary of $112,046 from January 1, 2013 until March 31, 2013.Part-time Ministers are entitled to $50,421 as of April 1.In the House of Assembly last night, Shadow Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert questioned how Mr Cannonier could set the date for April 1 when, at the December swearing-in of his new Cabinet, the Premier had promised to cut ministerial salaries “effective immediately”.Mr Cannonier called back that the resolution had to be brought before the House first.Shadow Finance Minister David Burt commended Mr Cannonier as “a very nice guy”.But the MP for Pembroke West Central added that as of November, 2012, Cabinet cost Bermuda taxpayers $114,941 a month, and it cost $133,316 a month as of January. Come April, he said, it would stand at $119,983 a month.Mr Burt added: “I have a challenge with the Premier getting up saying that Cabinet members will take a ten percent pay cut, effective immediately — and then backdating Ministers in the Senate and not backdating the pay cut.”Telling the Lower House that no political games were being played, Mr Cannonier said: “I move this Resolution though. We have taken our ten percent.” The Motion was passed.