And after the UDP press conference, the Cabinet Secretary held one of his own to clarify what he says is misinformation being spread by the opposition. He emphasized that the CEO's allowances haven't increased or doubled, but rather they have been restored to where they should be, and that the CEO's were entitled to the $1,500.
He further explained that it's only fair the CEO's got their money back since they agreed to come in with a slashed allowance only until the economy was no longer crumbling. And since the unions got back their 10%, well, why shouldn't the CEO's get back their allowances?
That's how he put it today:
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"This administration restored confidence so now business is growing and the economy is back to the point where, not three years as was promised within one year, the public officers 10% salary reduction was given back to them, is it that the CEO's should not be given their allowances restored at the same time?"
Reporter:
"Were they the ones to reach out to you to get it back?"
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"When the agreement was made, when the government said we will restore salaries and allowances for public officers, in effect everything was triggered, because the agreement was we are going to accept this as long as we are considered, the country's financial position is in a bad shape."
Reporter:
"Did you have to be reminded of that by one of the CEO's?"
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"Yes I had to be reminded of it, it came up in caucus, everybody has gotten back their one, so what about us?"
Courtney Menzies:
"Sir, I think that the crux of the matter, what most people are concerned about, is that we have medical shortages, we have people who are living in challenging times, there are people who basically this money could have been allocated somewhere else, is what people are saying."
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"Come again?"
Courtney Menzies:
"We're restoring the CEO's salaries..."
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"Yes but you want know why I said come again? As a journalist, if you are entitled to getting a vehicle and come here or if you have to take a taxi and come here, and you had to pay that taxi out of your own pocket, would you expect your company to give you back your money that you spent on a taxi? If you have to take a plane to go to San Pedro to cover a story but your boss or your supervisor say pay for it now, and come back, I'll sign a voucher and give you back when you come back in, won't you go back and ask for your money because you're entitled to it?"
Reporter:
"Do you understand the upset of the public though when they see these large benefits that CEO's are getting..."
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"No Marisol."
Reporter:
"When they are suffering?"
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"No Marisol, I understand that the public is upset because of the lies and misinformation that is being fed to them. That is why I gave you the facts here."
But so, since employment is up, and the economy is stable, does that mean the public officers can get back their increments?
Well that may not be in the cards just yet.
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"First of all, increments are not automatic, you earn your increment and just for the record, CEO's don't get any increments, so it is not as if CEO's are getting something more because think about what I said earlier, 2018 was the last time that CEO's got any salary increase, any increase in allowance or anything, 2018. Most jobs anywhere you go, every year, people get increase. Public officers are saying right now, we want our annual increase, CEO's don't get any increase in anything, they have to go to the table and negotiate to get any increase so if you're talking about cost of living and so on, what we are earning right now, is that the government believe a CEO is worth in 2018. Think of how the world has changed between 2018 and 2020."
Courtney Menzies:
"Sir, most people these days aren't even making half as much as what a CEO is making, and they still have to survive without living or travel allowances."
Stuart Leslie, Cabinet Secretary
"Most people have to run a country? Manage a 1.1 billion dollar economy? Let's compare, the former chairman of BTB sued the government, her annual salary was $250,000 without benefits, the salary for a CEO is $76,000. Right now as we speak, the salary for the CEO of BTL is I think close to half a million dollars, now including benefits, the salary for the CEO of BEL I think is in the avenue of $300,000 if I'm not mistaken. The president of UB, the Chief Magistrate, earns more. All of these people earn more than a CEO."
The CabSec did commit to speaking with the Minister of the Public Service about where they are in addressing the concerns of the Joint Unions - however, you will recall that the Joint Unions have complained that they feel they are being ignored by the government since their letters have gone unanswered.
