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I do not agree with the pension for Hamilton Green

Dec 21, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I leap in agreement with Lincoln Lewis on his letter: “A Pension must reflect a reasonable percentage of income not the full income” SN. November 23rd. The points raised by him are well grounded, have sturdy legs to stand on. Mr. Lincoln Lewis frankly states that: “The former Presidents Benefits Act is flawed ……. The law is self-serving … the bill tabled in the National Assembly addressing primarily the pension of Hamilton Green … cannot stand the test of scrutiny in its present form “. Even as a layman it is so clear to see. A pension as I always thought it to be was as exactly as Mr. Lewis described it, “meant to provide income at a percentage of what one would have earned during the work period of his\her life”. How then on God’s earth can it be as the very same remuneration of one actively employed?
Come on what the hell! There is need for us to be concerned that former Presidents\PMs will be receiving pension to the same amount as the current ones, are we a crazy bunch of people? I remember reading where it was reported that former P.M Hamilton Green $20, million dollars per year is equivalent to the payment of 67 pensioners per year, at a rate of $25,000 per month each at any measure this is somewhat vulgar and scandalous. As a simple everyday person not venturing into whatever intricacies involved, it still boggles my mind for an understanding on this astronomical disparity; on what grounds, what basis, what kind of formula was employed in arriving at this princely sum?
Damn! Is it merely just by virtue of the title “Prime Minister”, the office held? But I also understand that the goodly gentleman, former P.M and Mayor has about two/ three more pensions though less substantial. And further, I think Mr. Green really stretches the issue in his attempt to justify his pension package by informing us that had it not been for the largesse he had been receiving at the good grace of his wife and daughters living would have been real tough. Come on sir, really!? We need a jar of salt for this one to go down.
In any event the salary/ allowances received as PM were well above other ministers- we know about super salaries for ministers. I, like so many others am not against the man having what is due to him, and I have to say that I do admire Mr. Lewis’s objectivity when he reminded us not to lose sight of principle and focus on personalities for it does undermine productive discourse; so true. But we have to admit that there sure are times when there are exceptions and one has to exercise a bit of reservation.
Yes, pension has to do with public office and not about persons, but I would personally take the position that some, by the very nature of the function they performed should be considered and treated differently – and definitely so ! Think of the cases of despotic and oppressive regimes like a Hitler’s Germany, apartheid in Botha’s South Africa; Pinochet’s Chile in which there were callous human rights violations and crimes against humanity. Just what kind of remuneration percentage can be considered as proper and deserving as is constitutionally dictated for service to “humanity” and country?
I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Lewis when he so fittingly noted that we remain a donkey cart economy and our elected leaders must live in accordance with the economic reality. Unfortunately, the weight we carry are those leaders we have, who crave to live like great gods, heavenly at the expense of the downtrodden and have the temerity to say to your face “Why not”!
Frank Fyffe

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