In response to Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton’s recent comments about President Irfaan Ali’s salary, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has accused Norton of hypocrisy and misleading the public.
At a press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo lashed out at Norton for criticizing the President’s monthly salary of $2.9 million, particularly in the context of the recent 10% salary increase announced for public servants.
Norton had questioned the fairness of the wage disparity between high-ranking officials like President Ali and public sector workers.
Jagdeo, however, wasted no time in pointing out the discrepancies in Norton’s claims.
He revealed that Norton’s total monthly emoluments, without allowances and other payments, amounted to approximately $1.8 million, a figure that far exceeds the salary of many public servants.
“Norton talks about the President earning $2.9 million, but what about his own $1.8 million a month?” Jagdeo stated.
“This is excluding his vacation allowance and other annual payments. He also gets a budget of tens of millions to run his office. What is he doing with all that money?” he questioned.
Norton will also receive the recently- announced 10% increase.
Jagdeo went on to accuse Norton of hypocrisy, recalling the 2015 salary increase during the previous administration.
“Remember when they took that 50% salary increase for themselves? They argued that they were ‘super salaried,’ yet proceeded to award themselves a massive raise while public servants received only a 5% increase,” Jagdeo said.
“And now they want to pretend that they care about public servants? Their record speaks for itself.”
