Pension for former presidents go up to $49,500 a month

The Senate on Tuesday passed the President's Emolument Bill, which provides for a review every six years of the pension of all holders of the office of President to bring it in line with the salary of the current holder of the office.

It means two former presidents, Sir Ellis Clarke and Arthur N.R. Robinson, would begin receiving a monthly pension of $49,500, which is what the current president makes. Clark's current pension is $6,000 a month.

The widow of former president Noor Hassanali would also receive the additional pension.

Opposition Senator Wade Mark supported the bill in principle, but suggested it should be expanded to all classes of senior citizens, including former Ministers, Members of Parliament and public servants.

Mark noted that said former cabinet minister Kamaluddin Mohammed currently receives a monthly pension of $8,000. He also noted that senators who don't have ministerial portfolios are not entitled to pensions.

"We are debating a matter to give increased pensions to others and we have no pension rights at all," Mark said.

He also pointed out that under Section 141 of the Constitution, it was the Salaries Review Commission - not Parliament - which is responsible for reviewing the salary, terms and conditions of service of the president and other office holders.

But government Senator Mariano Browne, who piloted the bill, explained that Section 141 applies to the position of the President while the person is in office. The President's Emolument Bill, he said, is different because it deals with the pension after the person leaves office.

Mark also called on Government to eliminate the tax on pensions for everyone and called for indexing of all pensions to the cost of living. He said it is unfair for only former heads of state to have that benefit.

Senator Corrine Baptiste-McKnight said the bill is fair.

"If one compares oranges with oranges and apples with apples, then one does not compare Presidents with CEPEP workers and old age pensioners. So I would have thought that equity is reflected in this bill because the former Presidents are being accorded equal status with the sitting President," she said.

Independent Senator Basharat Ali wondered if the provisions of the bill can be justified when there is such a glaring disparity between what former presidents will receive and the emoluments of other public service workers.

He noted that there are three judges who are receiving a small pension of $3,600 a month. "Is there equity in that? I do not think so," he said.

Ali also pointed out retired judges are not permitted to practise within 10 years of their retirement, which puts additional financial strain on them.

He said while he supports the bill, he believes that in the interest of equity Parliament should look at other positions, principal among these is judges. He spoke of the widow of one judge who is getting a meagre $400 a month.