Out-of-pocket allowances and the President

Nov 24, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
Is there any truth to an alleged US$5000 ($1M) out-of-pocket allowance per overseas trip for President Jagdeo?
Arif Bulkan in his article titled “The Jagdeo Presidency: A dozen years of degeneration and decay” (SN, November 7, 2011) reported that President Jagdeo allegedly receives an out-of-pocket allowance of US$5,000 (G$1 million) for each overseas trip he makes, over and above the state funding for every overseas trip which the state pays for.
Could the following questions be answered and clarified by the Office of the President and others with information on this issue:
(1) Does the President receive or has the President ever received an out-of-pocket or personal allowance or any payment or benefit of any similar kind for his overseas travel and trips ever since he became President in 1999?
(2) If such an allowance was recently made or is still being made, what is the amount of the allowance at present, meaning what is the allowance amount paid per trip in 2011 to Mr. Jagdeo?
(3) If such an allowance was recently made or is still being made, is this allowance tax-free?
(4) When was this allowance instituted in the Presidency?
(5) Has this allowance ever increased during the Jagdeo presidency? What are the details of the increases in the allowance since Jagdeo took office in 1999?
(6) Does this allowance apply to every overseas trip the President makes, whether on official or personal business?
We are merely days from an election and this is a vital issue to those who will be voting on November 28th.
M. Maxwell

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News