The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) of taking Grenadians for a ride on its announcement after the downturn from the September 11 events in the United States.

Prime Minister Mitchell had indicated that government ministers will receive a 10% cut in salaries due to a drastic decline in government revenue as a result of the decline in the world economy.

The congress party has released to the local media at a press conference Tuesday a Cabinet Conclusion dated January 6, 2004 in which it said the government was attempting to reclaim the loss in salaries through a backpay plan.

A party official told GRENADA TODAY that while the Mitchell government had been calling on the nation to engage in sacrifice it was not doing the same.
Following is the full text of the Cabinet Conclusion:

FROM: Secretary to the Cabinet

TO: All Permanent Secretaries

DATE: January 06th, 2004

SUBJECT: NEW SALARIES FOR MINISTERS OF GOVERNMENT AND PAYMENT OF BACKPAY TO PARLIAMENTARIANS

Cabinet at its meeting 22nd December 2003 approved and directed the following:

(I) That Minsters of Government be paid salaries with effect from 3rd December 2003, in keeping with the levels which existed in 2001 as follows:

Ministers

Salary - $65,000.00 p.a

Allowances

Duty - $12,000.00 p.a

Entertainment -$4,800.00 p.a

Traveling - $5,448.00 p.a (in additional petrol to provided to a maximum of $500.00 per month)

Basic Telephone Rental

Cabinet also approved the following numerations for Ministers of State

Ministers of State

Salary - $48,480.00 p.a

Allowances
Duty - $7,200.00 p.a

Entertainment - $3,600.00 p.a

Traveling - $4,536.00 p.a (in additional petrol to provided to a maximum of $500.00 per month)

Basic Telephone Rental

Cabinet further approved a constituency allowance of $1,500.00 per month to each Parliamentary Representative and directed that the existing guidelines be followed.

(i) That back pay for Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries be calculated on the levels of salary which existed in 2001 prior to the downwards adjustment.

This cancels and supersedes my memorandum of 29th December, 2003.

SECRETARY TO THE CABINET