Outcomes of Prime Minister’s Decision on Salary Adjustments Highlighted

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness’ decision to decline the salary increase attached to the post under the new public-sector-compensation regime will have implications for past and future holders of the office.

Minister without Portfolio with Responsibility for Information, Hon. Robert Morgan, provided an update during Wednesday’s (May 24) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

“It’s not the [Most Hon.] Andrew Holness’ salary that has been reduced, it’s that of the [Office of the] Prime Minister; so, logically, I think it would be binding. I believe that it is binding, [for] both past and present [Prime Ministers], because pensions are also connected to the salary. So past and present and future [emoluments] would be tied to it,” he said, in response to a question.

The Prime Minister’s salary will remain at its existing level of $9.16 million.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. the Hon. Nigel Clarke, explained that “what the Prime Minister… has asked [is] that the salary scale for Prime Minister remain unchanged”.

Mr. Holness announced on Monday that he has directed the Transformation Implementation Unit to remove the Prime Minister’s compensation from the new salary scale.

“The Prime Minister’s compensation will, therefore, remain at its previous levels. To be clear, no retroactive payments will apply to the Prime Minister’s pay,” he informed during a press conference.

Dr. Clarke recently announced the new salary scales for the political directorate under the public-sector-compensation review.

These show that over the period 2022/23 to 2024/25, the Prime Minister’s salary would have increased from $9.16 million to $22.3 million, effective April 1, 2022; $25.2 million, effective April 1, 2023; and $28.5 million, effective April 1, 2024.