Did Cabinet Ministers Receive Pay Cut?

Cordel Hyde

Following today’s budget consultation with the B.N.T.U., Deputy PM Cordel Hyde and Ministers Francis Fonseca and Henry Charles Usher were asked if cabinet ministers received a ten percent salary cut.  Prime Minister John Briceño made that announcement in December 2020, but in a recent interview with the media, the P.S.U.’s first vice president Dean Flowers said that he had received documents showing otherwise. We asked the DPM about it.  

Hipolito Novelo

“The first vice president of the P.S.U., Mister Flowers  has gone on national television to say that it would inconsiderate for the government to ask the public sector to take a wage cut because he gotten evidence from the Ministry of Finance that you as the minister has not received a ten percent salary cut.”

Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister

“Well, we were asked that just now in the meeting with the B.N.T.U.  Our information is that that was done across the board, a ten percent pay cut and in the instances where that may not have happened that is not our fault. It may have been lost in the transition with the message from the financial secretary to the finance officer and if that has not taken place in some instances for sure it would be rectified.”

Elena Smith

Hipolito Novelo

“Where you satisfied with the question, answer on whether they the minters received their ten percent salary pay cut?”

Senator Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.

“In terms of whether they have given, yes. Well we believe that the answer that they gave us was an honest one, it is left to us if we don’t to make sure to request proof if necessary.”