Cab Sec. Sets Record Straight on Allowances for G.O.B. C.E.O.’s

Stuart Leslie

And, Stuart Leslie, the Cabinet Secretary, called a press conference this afternoon to set the record straight on the reinstatement of C.E.O.’s allowances. There are reports suggesting that the C.E.O.’s never took a fifty percent cut in their allowance.  Leslie argued otherwise. Here is what he told reporters today.

Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary

“I wanted to make some clarifications and dispel some of the misinformation that was out there. If you guys did what I did when I heard some of the misinformation and just went back into your archives you will find some of the facts right there. Because, if you would recall, I went on Channel Five’s website and I found where the Prime Minister had made an address to the nation. When the talks were going on in May of 2021 with the Joint Unions you would recall when the unions agreed to accept the ten percent cut. There was a discussion and the Prime Minister addressed the nation after that, and I want to read right here where the Prime Minister said, as quoted by Channel Five News, ministers, ministers of state, and C.E.O.’s will also surrender fifty percent of telephone and entertainment allowances. So, this misinformation that C.E.O.’s allowances were doubled or a hundred percent is false, not true. In 2018 the Barrow administration went into negations with C.E.O.’s, they agreed to packages including salaries and allowances. That package of salaries and allowances has not been changed since 2018, other than when the COVID pandemic came along, Mr. Barrow, the Prime Minister asked C.E.O.’s if they would as well take some gesture because of the financial situation in the country. The C.E.O.’s then agreed to take a fifty percent cut in allowances. When Prime Minister Briceño took office he asked if C.E.O.’s would agree to continue that. C.E.O.’s volunteered to continue to accept the reduction in allowances, but also agreed, by the circular, followed to a t by the circular sent out by the financial secretary, who called on C.E.O. and other heads of department, fifty percent cut in allowance, and ten percent cut in gratuity and ten days of leave. This team, this government, this administration reversed unemployment from thirty something percent to nine percent. This administration restored confidence so that business is growing and restored the economy to the point where not three years as was promised. Within one year the public officers ten percent salary reduction was given back to them. Is it that the C.E.O.’s should not be given their allowances restored?”