Bermuda legislators agree to 17.5% pay cut
(Royal Gazette): One Bermuda Alliance Leader Craig Cannonier yesterday insisted that Cabinet Ministers should bear the brunt of pay cuts. “The One Bermuda Alliance supports a pay cut for Ministers because they are the people in charge of the Government from policy to operations. It is Cabinet Ministers who run the Government, no one else,” Mr Cannonier said. “They are where the buck is supposed to stop.” His statement came hours after receiving a well publicised letter from Premier Paula Cox asking whether his party’s legislators would agree to a scheme which would see their take home pay drop by five percent.
“We will agree to a five percent cut for MPs and Senators plus a one-year suspension of pension contributions if Cabinet Ministers agree to a ten percent pay cut and suspend their use of credit cards and expense accounts an area of personal spending that has been allowed to spiral out of control in recent years,“ Mr Cannonier said.
He reminded the public that his party had pledged from inception that it would reduce Cabinet salaries by ten percent, but that the Premier had rejected Ministerial pay cuts as an “empty gesture”.
“That refusal was not acceptable then and it became more unacceptable as Government cutbacks continued to pile up on the backs of working Bermudians … That being said, the move for a pay cut, no matter how late in the game, is fundamentally right for Bermuda in these tough times.”
In a similar deal to that offered to the Island’s public service workers, Government legislators have now agreed to a combined 17.5 percent decrease in pay.
Category: World News
I believe the EXACT same thing could be said about the UDP.
It is unfortunate that the PLP sheeple believe in the “he who is not for me is against me” theory, as they are harming the Government they blindly follow.
They do not understand or care that there is a large number of undecided voters who have legitimate concerns about the Government, and want honest answers.
To assume they are OBA members or supporters is simply asinine!
Imagine the reduction in $$ flowing from the CIG's Treasury each month if :
1) ALL MLA's took a 10% paycut ; 2) if the free-spending, Govt credit cards, etc. was stopped and 3) the applicable MLA's and other pensioners who are on contract with Government were paid only their salaries, and not their pensions PLUS their salaries.
Our MLA's should give back the 10% raise they gave themselves, and all pension double dippings with interest; and then cut into their salaries.
Let’s keep in mind they vote their own pay rises. It doesn’t seem to go the other way though. I wouldn’t wait for this to happen here. This might be the only thing that the UDP cronies actually fight their leader on should he ask for it (not that he ever will). Hell PPM might even fight it.
Go read the full article.
1) Its a 5% pay cut; the other 12.5% comes from a freeze on their pension payments. (Which may be a defined benefit plan, so not contributing to it may not be of any long term benefit.) Its for one year.
2) Regarding the planed cut to others in their public service, by some "it is considered a raid on already underfunded Government pension fund." It has also been described as a “desperation move to get her Government off the hook for what is shaping up to be the worst Budget in Bermuda’s modern history. The workers’ pay cut has nothing to do with making things better for people. It has everything to do with making her Budget look better than it is”.
3) None of this has actually come to pass yet. Not saying that it won't, but I do suggest saving praises for actual action. As both parties point out against the other – this has been suggested before but its politrics.
Class act to follow, Bermudians are simply the best and nothing less!
Aren't you forgetting the mismanagement that got them in the mess that has forced them to do this?
You can see there are other places that are struggling to make ends meet and whining and blaming do not solve the problems. Cayman must cut expenses and tone down the China Harbor project to a more reasonable level.
reminds me of one the many flip-flops, u-turns done by this sorry excuse of a government……
Cayman legislators, cronies, and stooges … please take note.
Well, well what do you say now CIG lets see
Wow! Hey Bermuda, can we switch politicians/cabinet members? You can have our HBIC as long as you promise not to return him.
I remember well when the premier said (to the effect)that he would lead the way in pay cuts to help the economy and said that other members would follow suit.Ha!Ha!Ha!What a bunch of wonderful words.
Did that mouthful of wordssss, meant more for their pockets? My pocket is empty and theirs is over-flowing, the Treasury is scraping. HELP HELP, working is coming, contracts are signing, and the people are starving. HELP HELP.