While protesting sugar workers stood and listened to the live stream outside of the National Assembly on Thursday, debate raged in the House for and against former Prime Minister Hamilton Green’s Pension Bill.
Former Prime Minister Hamilton Green
After the second reading of the Bill got underway on Thursday, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) argued strenuously against the Bill, which would grant Green the benefits accorded to a President. However, their entreaties and votes against the Bill was to no avail, as it was passed by the Government majority.
According to Opposition parliamentarian Anil Nandlall, the pension which the Government was “using” the Parliament to accord to Green is intended to serve as political patronage and cronyism. He blasted the Government for pushing through the Bill at a time of economic slowdown and reduced fiscal space.
“On what basis is Mr Green getting the benefits and facilities of a former President? He has never been a Head of State. Minister (Jordan) quoted some law which dealt with Heads of State. We cannot make laws to suit the idiosyncrasies of individuals,” Nandlall argued.
“Today we are told that there is no fiscal space for GuySuCo (and) sugar worker salaries. We are told that there is no fiscal space to allow for VAT exemptions for our students in private schools. We don’t have fiscal space for that, but we have fiscal space to pay millions of dollars a year, in an unprincipled way, (this pension).”
The former Attorney General quoted Article 149 of the Constitution of Guyana, which prescribes that no law will be formed which is discriminatory in nature.
“This law discriminates against every single pensioner in this country. This law uses a different formula for a calculation of the pension. This Bill (bestows) a pension absolutely unconnected with his last held salary.”
Nandlall argued that any package given to the former Prime Minister must be able to stand up to any examination based on merit.
PPP Member of Parliament Gail Teixeira, proposed an ex-gratia payment, one done out of moral responsibility rather than a legal requirement, to Green. She made it clear, however, that the PPP would never support the Bill.
“Pay him the ex-gratia award. We won’t even question how much you pay him. But this Bill is out of order and must be withdrawn,” Texieira said. On the Government side, Finance Minister Winston Jordan argued for the merits of Green getting the benefits. Jordan, who brought the Bill to the floor, noted that Green was one of the longest serving Prime Ministers in Guyana’s history.
He expressed surprise that Transparency International Guyana Institute (TIGI) and Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) were opposed to the Bill. Williams claimed that their commentary focused on personalities.
Jordan also defended the fact that the Bill is in Green’s name. He made comparisons with former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who he pointed out enjoys a President’s pension having briefly served in that capacity.
Jordan noted that the principle of upholding Green’s rights to a pension “trumped” any subjective opposition. The Finance Minister emphasised that Green would be getting seven-eighths of the Prime Minister’s salary.
Attorney General Basil Williams also supported his colleague, arguing in favour of the Bill on the grounds that Green has served in Guyana for decades in capacities ranging from Prime Minister to Ministers.
Notwithstanding the strenuous arguments, the Opposition was defeated and the Bill was passed in the house. The Bill provides for Green to receive all benefits provided for by the Former President (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2015.
The value of these benefits are an annual pension of $20.5 million, other benefits to the value of $3.1 million annually, two vehicles provided and maintained by the State, and two first-class annual airfares provided by the State.
Additionally, the former Prime Minister also qualifies for an ex-parliamentarian pension, together with whatever benefits accrue from his period as Mayor of Georgetown.
The Bill was passed on the same day sugar workers protested for their severance pay. Their protest took them from the Ministry of the Presidency to outside Parliament.
In addition, there was also a mass protest outside of City Hall over the Parking Meter Project recently implemented in the city. The project has been opposed by the populace from the outset, as there are contentions over the transparency of the contract and the arbitrarily determined rates.
There have also been weekly protests against the Value Added Tax (VAT) which was implemented on private education. Despite reports emerging just as the protests got underway that the VAT would be reversed, President David Granger later declared that it would remain.
In the 2017 National Budget, the average old age pensioner received an increase of $800, raising their earnings from $18,200 monthly to $19,000.
