Judges give up pay rise

| 02/06/2010

Cayman Islands News, Grand Cayman Island Headline News(CNS): Although the country’s judiciary should have received a biennial cost of living allowance of 2.2% last year, the Chief Justice’s Office has stated that, in support of the civil service, the judges will be giving up the increase from 1 July. Following speculation that government had approved salary increases for judges, a statement from Chief Justice Anthony Smellie indicates that this is not the case but that under the terms of the Judges Emoluments and Allowances Law and Order they are entitled to an adjustment every two years based on inflation. Judges should have received this last September but it was delayed because the cost of living index was not published until earlier this year.

“Judges have made the decision to give to government, effective July 2010, the 2.2% increase that was due to them from September last year,” the statement from the CJ’s office said.  “This is being done effective July, when the general civil service rollback comes into effect, as a symbolic expression of support in the face of the present financial difficulties of the country.”
 In keeping with Section 95 of the Constitution, the judges’ consent is required before there can be any diminution to their entitlements.
As judges’ pay is awarded under different rules to the rest of the civil service, members of the local legal bench did not receive the same 3.2% cost of living allowance (COLA) which is now being rolled back across the rest of the public sector as part of the 2010/11 government budget cuts.
“Cost of living increases to judges’ salaries can be made only under the terms of the Judges Emoluments and Allowances Law and Order and not by Cabinet. Therefore, the earlier 3.2% cost of living increase for the general civil service did not apply to, and were not received by, judges,” the chief justice explained.
The office confirmed that magistrates’ salaries fall under general public sector pay and their salaries, along with the rest of the courts’ staff, will be subject to the same conditions as other civil servants and subject to the 3.2% rollback.
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  1. Just a Shoddy Idea. says:

    13.29

     

    Inflation is done but using the CPI (Consumer Price Index). If you don’t know what that is then google it. Now if our Dept. of Economics uses gas prices in the CPI I don’t know, but that 2% is calculated by a combination of goods not just gas and food…. Those stats should be available to the public so someone can call the Govt and ask….

    • Anonymous says:

      The key difference it seems is that the judiciary are guarunteed under law to receive a cost of living increase every two years.  The rest of the civil service does not get a cost of living increase with the same regularity.

      To say that the judiciary did not get the 3.2% when the rest of the civil service did may be true, but likewise the civil service does not get the guarunteed increases that the judiciary has received over the years. 

      Do an FOI request and see how much increases have been given to the judiciary over the last 10 years and how much the civil service received.

      And the only reason they did not get the 2.2% last year was that the CPI had not het been published.  The fact that the public outcry would be so great right now if they took the 2.2% increase you can be sure had some influence on their decision.

      Also did not the CPI go down last year- i thought they said we had the first year of deflation in our history.

      I wonder if the law provides for decreases in their salary when the CPI goes down.

      I believe on the whole we may have a good judiciary and we need to pay them accordingly, but dont jump and down because of this waiver of 2.2% entitlement at this time. To put it mildly – they would have been crucified had they taken it.  Trust me, the crosses had already been erected and the sight of them had all and sundry trembling in fright. 

       

       

  2. Anonymous says:

    Correction – all chief officers (including the ones at home on garden leave) make a MINIMUM basic salary of $127,296 per year or CI$10,608 per month.  Most of them make more. They are on payscale C and the more senior ones can be earning up to CI$147,648 per year or CI$12,304 per month.

    But the salary levels of the top positions in the statutory authorities are even more.   

     

  3. Seriously says:

    It was an admirable decline of the salary increase by the Judges; it really does put Big Mac and his cohorts to shame!

    Whilst writing, could someone please explain how "inflation" is calculated to be 2% on this Island.  Petrol has gone up 0.80c per gallon (remember the good old days when it was $3.74 per gallon?) , food has gone up at least 10% due to duty increases (and basic greed); so I am at a total loss how inflation is at 2%.  Anyone??

    • Anonymous says:

      CPI comprises a basket of goods/services with different weightings attached. Some categories have gone up while others have gone down. E.g. you will find that rent (housing) has gone down. The largest slice (39%) goes to housing, utilities and fuel. 

      Actually inflation as measured by the CPI is not at 2% but in negative territory, i.e. deflation. The 2% given every other there is to represent inflation but will not necessarily be a reflection of CPI.    

  4. Rorschach says:

    I find it laughable that these persons who are making 100,000 CI $ or more per year are making such a big production out of giving up 2-3% of their salaries.   It seems to me they are doing this and turning around and saying, "See here, we can give up 2.2% of our salary,..see, it’s not so hard…"  Well, I say RUBBISH…the average CS makes NOWHERE NEAR 100,000 CI$ P/A…Most don’t even make half that.. 

    What needs to be answeredis how such a small country could allow these positions to be awarded these exorbitant salaries to begin with??  Excuse me, but the Port Director making up to $17,000 a MONTH??  You have got to be kidding me….Chief officers making up to and over $100,000 P/A…again, you have got to be kidding me….Before you start running on about cuttin salaries in the rank and file CS…these positions should be reviewed and the salaries brought more in line with the REAL WORLD…not this FANTASY WORLD that most of these people are living in…and don’t get me started on this farcical body we call the Legislative Assembly…

    • Nonnie Mouse says:

      There are no civil servants as important to this nation’s economy than the Grand Court judges.  Bad judges destroy the reputation of an offshore jurisdiction for years and years.  The crop we have actively sitting at the moment are very very good.

      • Rorschach says:

        Nonnie,
         I am not for one second attacking the integrity of the judges we have sitting on the bench…I am just questioning the perception that persons making well over $100K a year who CHOOSE to give up 2.2% of their salary are somehow doing something above and beyond what was FORCED onto the lower ranks of the CS…If you notice, I did not only point my comments at the judiciary, but also the higher echelons of the CS as well as Heads of Staturoty Authorities AND the LA…

         

        • Nonnie Mouse says:

          The more senior employees have more strategic value, those lower down the pyramid are easily replaceable.  If the lower down staff can make more money in the private sector they will leave if cuts are imposed in which case everyone wins.  It is the cuts in the rank in file that make the difference.

          Harsh, maybe.  But the reality of our economic predicament is harsh.

          By the way I do agree with you that many of the higher positions in the CS are massively overpaid.

        • Anonymous says:

          Try to keep the broader terms of what is happening here in focus:

          1. the 3.2% the civil service is giving back is the cost of living increase that members received.

          2. the judges did not receive that cost of living increase.  In fact, at that time they received no increase at all.

          3.  Now the judges are saying that they will also relinquish the increase that they were entitled to — the 2.2% due to them from last year September.

           

          • Rorschach says:

            What is happening in broader terms is this…The CS didn’t GIVE BACK anything…it was REVOKED!!  They had NO CHOICE…

            and don’t even try to equivacate someone making between $2500-3000 losing 3.2% with someone not getting a 2.2%raise who is making betweeen $165,000 and $187,000..

            Sounds like another wealthy persons version of "let them eat cake"…

    • Anonymous says:

      I hear what you’re saying but every little bit helps.

      Kudos to the judges for this decision.

    • Anonymous says:

      Bitter people like you make me laugh.  If people educated themselves well and worked their way up the ranks by paying their dues in the workplace why the H… should they not make good money?  If you are one of those that never got an education or is lazy or job hops and never works up the ladder then I know why you are so bitter.  It makes me laugh too that it is your kind of person that expects to make the same salary as our judges, the Premier, our Governor etc.  Kind of like thinking Rolls Royce with a Ford Escort mentality and effort.  Get a life!

      • Rorschach says:

        Sorry to rebut your assumption, but I am not bitter, nor am I uneducated, lazy or unable to hold down a job.  I am a happily retired businessman, who had an idea, patented that idea, started my own company, worked for the better part of 40 years and built it into a multi-million dollar asset then took it public and walked away with more money than I could ever hope to spend in two lifetimes.  I am however, sensitive to the plight of people who are constantly looked down upon by the general public, because they chose to live a life of service and sacrifice.  Yes, I said sacrifice.  How many of you people who want to crucify the civil servants of this country ever have to go to work on weekends, public holidays, overnight shifts??  Gone out in hurricanes to search for people who may be in trouble?  Have you ever gone to work in the morning and wondered if you would live to finish the end of your shift and go back home to your familys at the end of it all??  Have you ever run into a burning house or business and put your life at risk to save someone else’s??  Have you ever attende the scene of a horrific traffic accident and had to be stoic and unwavering while dealing with the most horrible tragedies?  Or had to go and tell a total stranger that their loved one will not be coming home today, Or ever?   I have known many, many loyal and hardworking civil servants over the years.  These people serve without asking for anything in return.  Are there some people who work in the CS who are lazy, unqualified and undereducated for their positions??  Of course…but look around at your own work environment..chances are you could probably spot a few of those walking around you at any given moment..you might even be surprised by what you see if you were to take a look in the mirror…the fact remains…the average CS works hard for their money.  They are not rolling in luxury.  If they get ahead by working two or even three part time jobs, then one could hardly say they are lazy…It is also not fair to say that someone is unmotivated simply because they are unable to "move up the ladder" as you put it…there are a lot of CS who are stuck in lower positions simply because they choose to refrain from partaking in office politics and therefore are destined to always be passed over for those who are willing to do "anything to get ahead".  And lest you think that this only happens in Cayman, you would be grossly mistaken.  This is pretty much universal when it comes to public service.

    • Anonymous says:

      It is high time to Privatize the Port Authority. $17,000.00 per month salary for the Port Director is just unbelievable. What do this person do for that kind of salary apart from constantly raising the port charges on consumers.

      Is it any wonder the working people of this country find it hard to make ends meet. We have the highest shipping rates of any country in the world and the Government is to blame for it. A 20 foot container from Grand Cayman to Miami cost 3 times what it cost to ship that same container from Miami to China. Because of the high Port charges the shipping companies have an excuse to way overcharge for ocean freight. They tab on all sorts of charges for which they do not provide a service. One of which is a weight scale charge, yet they dont even have a truck scales to weigh anything with.

    • Anonymous says:

      The judges are not actually "making a big production" about this.  CNS asked them questions and they responded, as they should to media questions. 

      And in keeping with responding to those CNS questions, the Chief Justice refrained from issuing the response to all media, but confined the response to CNS.

       

  5. Anonymous says:

    Good Point!

    People are living (I hope) within their current means; once that is taken away, they might be forced to look elsewhere, and part-time jobs are hard to come by.

     

  6. JE'NAE ADAMSONS says:

    That’s what all of them needed to do from the get go … all who make above $   2,800.00 should be the one’s who have to cut back and especially those who are in cabinet and or is a cabinet member .

    Remember were already in a recession and we cannot allow anymore loses to the poor people we are just like everyone else we need to survive in these hard times.

    Paycuts from the very get go should have not applied to any person(s) who make less than $  2,800.00 …

    Because I know for a fact I’m not the only person who shops at the grocery stores and I clearly don’t see any of the prices in there going down just up,up,up and up! …

    We won’t be able to survive if they cut pays and this would also increase the crime rate again … So I’m speaking and speaking until I can’t anymore …

    Cayman We Need Another Political Party who are actually gonna stick to there word and by word I mean don’t try to buy your votes by shelding out money here and there fridges,stoves and other goods to get votes because poor people,middle class people and no rich people your out of this coversation . ..

    Honestly take a good ear full and eye full isn’t it true that after the " Politicians" become in power they : 

    FORGET ABOUT YOU!, THEY DON’T ANYTHING BESIDES SPEND,SPEND,SPEND AND SPEND!

    MONEY ON THINGS WHICH IS NOT! A BENEFIT TO THE CAYMANIAN CHILDREN!  AND OR PEOPLE OF GRAND CAYMAN , CAYMAN ISLANDS …

    BECAUSE ALL NOW THEY DON’T HAVE A RECREATIONAL CENTRE FOR ALL AGES TO ATTEND ON THE WEEKENDS …  T

    HEY HAVEN’T HELP OUT POOR FAMILIES WHO AREN’T IN A POSITION TO HELP !! BUT YET THEY CAN SPEND 6 MILLION DOLLARS ON A HELICOPTER WHICH WILL ONLY LAST THEM 6 YEARS ??? COME ON NOW GOVERNMENT CAN DO!!  AND SHOULD DO BETTER!!!!

    DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY HOMES COULD HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY … DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY CAYMANIAN FAMILIES WOULD HAVE SOME WHERE TO CALL THERE OWN??

    BUT INSTEAD THEY WASTE IT ON A HELICOPTER NOW REALLY YOU HAVE POOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SLUMS ON A PARADISE ??

    HOW DO YOU THINK THE TOURIST WILL FEEL ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY ASK CAYMANIANS HOW THINGS ON THE ISLANDS!!!

    IF I WAS IN GOVERNMENT AND HAD SPENT ALL THAT MONEY KNOWING I HAVE MY OWN CAYMANIAN PEOPLE PUT THERE SUFFERING WHEN I AS A POLITICIANS CAN HELP MYSELF SHOULD CONSIDER HELPING OUT THE PEOPLE IN MY OWN DISTRICT 1ST THEN WORK MY WAY UP TO EAST END!!! …. UNTIL EVERY FAMILY IS IN A HOME EVEN IF IT’S 5 FAMILY MEMBERS AND IT’S ONLY A 4 BEDROOM HOUSE THEY CAN ALWAYS BUILD ON ANOTHER ROOM ONTO THE HOUSE BUT ATLEAST IT’S FOOT START!!!

    BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT NOT!   HOW OUR POLITICIANS SEE IT!!!

    I WISH WE HAD A MIRACLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      CNS should send you a bill for all the xtra bandwidth you use for you stupid caps.

      Most of us readers are not blind.

  7. Anonymous says:

    How much do the judges get paid each year?

    • Anonymous says:

      Puisne (Grand Court) judges are on the A scale – $165,144 – 182,292 per year

      The Chief Magistrate is on the C scale – $127,296 – 147,648 per year

      Magistrates are on the E scale – $99,456 – 121,188 per year

      • Anonymous says:

        If there is a special salary band for Chief Magistrate (not sure why) isn’t there a special band for Chief Justice?

      • Anonymous says:

        Blimey, how soon can I sign on to this affluent life-style?

  8. Just a Shoddy Idea.... says:

    This is little money in the big picture but it is the principle that is on hand here. Someone is stepping up to the plate to make a gesture and say as little or insignificant as my contribution may be, at least I am making a contribution and not adding to the problem.

    This does more for the morale of the situation than anything else. Just to see those of 6 figure salaries "take one for the team" is a piece of good news after weeks/months of back and forth and flip flopping between ideas of how to save OUR (the people of the Cayman Islands) money (granted I would not want to be in Big Mac’s shoes right now).

    I applauded anyone willing to make a salary sacrifice and not complain about it.

    • I wonder wonder wonder says:

      Do you realize that this 2.2% is not coming out of the salary that they make now, they are opting to not take an increase that they were slated to get in the future.  So they are not really getting any cuts

      How can that be compared to the civil servants who are actually getting money taken from their basic salary.  If they want to show compassion or understanding, how about they dont take the 2.2% and also take the 3.2% cut like all the other civil service.  That was be considered generous in a time that the government is under such constraints. The MLA’s have agreed to at least that much

  9. Twyla Vargas says:

    Every little bit counts I am sure.  This was a good gesture,  considering all the stress Judges have to go through. 

      (My opinion only)  I think doctors, judges, airline pilots, teachers and police should either have very little taken from their salaries or even none at all.  The call of their job is stress.    Every one is entitled to their own opinon which dont necessarily have to be acknowledged by anyone else.  Blessed

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with everything you said, besides the part about the police….They are probably one of the higher paid ones, and they do nothing, I mean besides drive around wasting gas and throwing powder everywhere on a crime scene, just to find out nothing.

    • Anonymous says:

      Teachers?! Are you kidding me?

      As a school teacher I make $25000 a YEAR. My rent alone is over HALF that, adding in phone, internet, health insurance, car insurance, and petrol.. I’m nearly in the negative!

       

      So don’t even THINK of lowering teachers’ salaries.

      • Anonymous says:

        Anon Wed 14:57: So you work in a private school or are you an assistant teacher or teachers aid? All properly qualified full time teachers in the government sector are on the L scale (or above) which starts well ABOVE the figure you give as your salary. Could you clarify? Thanks.

        • Anonymous says:

          I’m a private school teacher, with a duel bachelors degree in kindergarten through grade 12 education, and k-12 music education.

      • true dat. says:

        Considering what Caymanian leadership fears of anyone smarter than themselves its amazing you still have a job.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Let us be careful about cutting the Civil Servant’s salaries that this don’t cause many of them to seek monies elsewhere. It is called corruption!

    • Anonymous says:

      I would have to say it’s too late for that now. People who chase money will never have enough, just like a fire that is never satisfied.

    • Anonymous says:

      I would think that the unauthorised use of Governments gasoline and other items is a form of corruption, so as far as corruption goes it seems to me that it already exists.

    • Anonymous says:

      Your logic is flawed and suggests dishonest public servants are the order of the day.

      Your premise is that "if civil servants’ salaries are reduced they will turn to dishonest means of compensating themselves to the tune of the reduction".

      This is an irresponsible way of looking at things and portrays civil servants in an undeserved and inaccurate light.

      Shame on you.