One bridge Finnegan would surely not burn is the one with full salaries plus allowances for Ministers of Government. Currently that package amounts to $112,000 dollars, but last week Friday the Prime Minister announced that he was going to cut it by 10% across the broad in consideration of the COVID crisis and its effect on government finances.
Today, Michael Finnegan said that's not a course he supports - he urges full pay for full work:
Michael Finnegan - Former Minister "That is semantics, a man deserve a good pay for the job that you get elected to do and to say you will cut a man salary by 5% because if you think you will look good out here to me, that is foolishness as far as I'm concerned."
Jules Vasquez "So, you're saying salaries shouldn't be cut?"
Michael Finnegan "I'm not talking about ministers totally, that job as an area representative is a hard job, a hard-working job and when you are an area representative, an area representative is deserving of a good salary."
Jules Vasquez "Do you think when you cut people salary, that it's an incentive for them to hustle?"
Michael Finnegan "That's possibility because you know people greedy you understand me and I believe - I was a minister for 12 years and a minister get like allowances and salary just like the now ministers and so, get over 100 and odd thousand dollars per year. If you add that up for 12 years and you're wife the work with you too and only two of you live in a house, you can't spend that salary that they the give you, you're understanding where I'm coming from, you can't spend that, that's a lot of money. The point I'm trying to make to you, there should be no need for dishonesty if you are earning that kind of money."
Jules Vasquez "Let us speak plainly, you know a lot of people who are earning that salary, your colleagues in the former government who were earning that salary, yet were still hustling, still engaging in outside deals."
Michael Finnegan "Jules I can't talk for that, I don't know that, but I am saying to you, if that was being done, then it is based on greed. Only way you can spend 9 thousand dollars a month if you are living foul."
