Big pay cuts planned for Ministers
Premier Craig Cannonier has tabled proposed pay cuts for Cabinet Ministers, as promised by the party.The changes include pay cuts for many posts, Cabinet Ministers who sit in the Senate would receive a boost in pay to set them at the same level as Cabinet Ministers in the House of Assembly.A resolution to revise the Ministers and Members of the Legislature (Salaries and Pensions) Act 1975 was tabled on Friday.According to the resolution, the base annual salary for Ministers and Senators will remain unchanged, with Ministers earning $56,023 and Senators $30,367.However the additional salary for most Cabinet posts would drop by around ten percent as of April 1 should the resolution be approved.— The annual salary for the Premier will fall from $168,069 to $151,262.— The annual salary for the Deputy Premier will fall from $125,491 to $112,942.— The annual salary for the Minister of Finance will fall from $134,455 to $121,010.— The annual salary for the Attorney General will fall from $163,358 to $147,022.— All other Cabinet Members will receive an annual salary of $100,841.While this is a ten percent pay cut for those who sit in the House of Assembly who previously had an annual salary of $112,046, it marks an 80 percent increase for those who sit in the Senate, who had received $56,023 per annum.Ministers in the Senate will also have their annual pay increased to $112,046 between January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2013, bringing them in line with those in the House of Assembly for the period. The increase will directly affect two senators, Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy and Education Minister Nalton Brangman.The legislation also sets pay scales for part-time Cabinet Ministers, who will receive half the salary of their full-time counterparts — $60,505 for the Minister of Finance and $50,421 for other Cabinet Ministers.Other salaries will remain unchanged. These include:— Opposition Leader — $30,367.— Speaker of the House — $26,569.— Senate President — $15,181.— Deputy Speaker of the House — $13,285.— Junior Minister in the Senate — $11,425.— Junior Minister in the House — $11,387.— Party Whips — $7,593.— Senate Vice President — $3,308.