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G-G gets fat retirement package
BY ERICA VIRTUE Sunday Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, January 18, 2009
SIR Kenneth Hall will officially demit office on February 26 with a fat retirement package, after serving only three years as the country's head of state.
Hall. was appointed governor-general on February 15, 2006
King's House on Friday confirmed that when he finally 'joins the pension line', he will take home his usual annual salary package as well as other allowances.
"Upon retirement, the governor-general is entitled to a pension equal to his salary as well as, either accommodation in a government-owned house or housing allowance." King's House said in response to questions from the Sunday Observer.
King's House said the governor-general currently receives an annual salary equivalent to that of the Chief Justice of Jamaica. That figure was quoted as $7,428,000 per annum, plus an additional $25,000 per annum.
The governor-general will also receive secretarial, household helper and gardener allowances, King's House said.
In addition, sources also told the Sunday Observer that Sir Kenneth also receives a pension from the University of the West Indies (UWI) where he served as principal.
Sir Kenneth, 67, was appointed governor-general on February 15, 2006, succeeding Sir Howard Cooke who had served as head of state from August 1991. It could not be ascertained if retired Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke receives a similar pension and/or allowance package.
Last year, Prime Minister Bruce Golding reversed a pension plan for former prime ministers that was approved by Parliament in 2005 during the P J Patterson administration.
Under that plan, all former prime ministers would receive a pension equivalent to the current prime minister's annual salary.
Golding exercised his option to cut his pension to two-thirds that of the existing prime minister's salary, while reducing the pension that will be paid to his successors. Golding's cut, however, does not affect the payment to his predecessors.
It could not be immediately ascertained what were the salary arrangements for governors-general at the time Sir Howard departed office.
According to the Governor-General (Expenditure, Personal, Staff, Tax Exemptions and Pensions) Act, every person who, having held the office of governor-general on or after the 28th June 1965, ceases at anytime after that date to be governor-general shall be paid a pension with effect from the date on which he ceases to be governor-general and subject to the provisions of subsection (2) shall continue to be paid during the lifetime of that person.
He is entitled to a salary at an annual rate equivalent to the sum of the annual rate of salary (exclusive of allowances) attached to the Office of the Chief Justice.
News broke early last Tuesday that Sir Kenneth would be leaving as the Queen's representative to Jamaica on account of ill health.
Sir Kenneth's decision to retire was later formally announced by Prime Minister Bruce Golding in Parliament, hours after the departure was reported on radio.
The prime minister said Sir Kenneth had advised him in July 2008 of his desire to demit office in October on account of ill health.
He agreed to continue until February 2009, and his request was conveyed to and has been approved by the Queen, the prime minister said.
The prime minister expressed the country's and the Government's appreciation to Sir Kenneth for what he described as "a sterling job", saying that he had "performed his duties with diligence, dignity, charm, impartiality and understanding and has been a credit to the highest office in our land".
Sir Kenneth will be replaced by Dr Patrick Allen, president of the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Allen, the prime minister said, would be sworn in at King's House on February 26, the same day Sir Kenneth leaves office.
BY ERICA VIRTUE Sunday Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, January 18, 2009
SIR Kenneth Hall will officially demit office on February 26 with a fat retirement package, after serving only three years as the country's head of state.
Hall. was appointed governor-general on February 15, 2006
King's House on Friday confirmed that when he finally 'joins the pension line', he will take home his usual annual salary package as well as other allowances.
"Upon retirement, the governor-general is entitled to a pension equal to his salary as well as, either accommodation in a government-owned house or housing allowance." King's House said in response to questions from the Sunday Observer.
King's House said the governor-general currently receives an annual salary equivalent to that of the Chief Justice of Jamaica. That figure was quoted as $7,428,000 per annum, plus an additional $25,000 per annum.
The governor-general will also receive secretarial, household helper and gardener allowances, King's House said.
In addition, sources also told the Sunday Observer that Sir Kenneth also receives a pension from the University of the West Indies (UWI) where he served as principal.
Sir Kenneth, 67, was appointed governor-general on February 15, 2006, succeeding Sir Howard Cooke who had served as head of state from August 1991. It could not be ascertained if retired Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke receives a similar pension and/or allowance package.
Last year, Prime Minister Bruce Golding reversed a pension plan for former prime ministers that was approved by Parliament in 2005 during the P J Patterson administration.
Under that plan, all former prime ministers would receive a pension equivalent to the current prime minister's annual salary.
Golding exercised his option to cut his pension to two-thirds that of the existing prime minister's salary, while reducing the pension that will be paid to his successors. Golding's cut, however, does not affect the payment to his predecessors.
It could not be immediately ascertained what were the salary arrangements for governors-general at the time Sir Howard departed office.
According to the Governor-General (Expenditure, Personal, Staff, Tax Exemptions and Pensions) Act, every person who, having held the office of governor-general on or after the 28th June 1965, ceases at anytime after that date to be governor-general shall be paid a pension with effect from the date on which he ceases to be governor-general and subject to the provisions of subsection (2) shall continue to be paid during the lifetime of that person.
He is entitled to a salary at an annual rate equivalent to the sum of the annual rate of salary (exclusive of allowances) attached to the Office of the Chief Justice.
News broke early last Tuesday that Sir Kenneth would be leaving as the Queen's representative to Jamaica on account of ill health.
Sir Kenneth's decision to retire was later formally announced by Prime Minister Bruce Golding in Parliament, hours after the departure was reported on radio.
The prime minister said Sir Kenneth had advised him in July 2008 of his desire to demit office in October on account of ill health.
He agreed to continue until February 2009, and his request was conveyed to and has been approved by the Queen, the prime minister said.
The prime minister expressed the country's and the Government's appreciation to Sir Kenneth for what he described as "a sterling job", saying that he had "performed his duties with diligence, dignity, charm, impartiality and understanding and has been a credit to the highest office in our land".
Sir Kenneth will be replaced by Dr Patrick Allen, president of the West Indies Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Allen, the prime minister said, would be sworn in at King's House on February 26, the same day Sir Kenneth leaves office.