Before he was sworn in as the fifth President of the Republic, former judge Anthony Carmona earned over TT$150,000 a month as a sitting judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He resigned as a judge on March 18, 2013, the day he assumed his role as President, Commander of the Armed Forces and head of the T&T Parliament.
A source close to the President said Carmona earned €15,000 a month (TT$119,100) as an ICC judge, plus an attractive child dependency allowance, exemption on taxes, travel allowances and an expenditure allowance. His entire family was given diplomatic passports and his wife Reema, who is an economist by profession, was offered a job. He became an ICC judge in 2012.
The source said despite the payment of the controversial tax-free monthly housing allowance of $28,000 to President Carmona in addition to his current $64,270 tax-free salary and a duty allowance of $9,650 a month tax-free, he is still earning far less than what he earned previously. “He took this post because of his love for his country, because he was earning more than three times the salary paid to the President at that time,” the source added.
The President is the highest paid public office-holder. The housing allowance given to Carmona has been criticised by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, former prime minister Basdeo Panday, ILP leader Jack Warner, MSJ leader David Abdulah, former minister and judge Herbert Volney, Senior Counsel Martin Daly, former head of the public service Reginald Dumas and former Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman and senior counsel Kenneth Lalla, who say Carmona is not entitled to a housing allowance because he gets state-provided accommodation at Flagstaff Hill, Long Circular.
By letter, dated July 9, 2013, the Chief Personnel Officer, Stephanie Lewis, noted that “as a principle, where an office-holder is provided with accommodation by the State, a housing allowance is not payable for any period during which he/she is provided with such accommodation.” Calls have been made for the CPO to take back the housing allowance.
In a commentary on Monday, Lalla said it was wrong for Carmona to move into Flagstaff and then decide that the accommodation was unsuitable and accept a housing allowance. He also said: “It will appear that there is no provision in law or under the Constitution authorising the Chief Personal Officer to make the payment of a house allowance or any allowance at all to the President.”
The Civil Service Act did not allow the CPO to determine the terms and conditions of service of the President, Lalla said, and neither could the Minister of Public Administration or the Minister of Finance.
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has said the SRC, headed by Edward Collier, has a duty to clarify the issue, since he said the CPO, as secretary to the SRC, could not, of her own volition, decide on the allowance and it was a matter for the SRC alone.
He said Collier’s silence had the potential to bring the office of the CPO and the President into disrepute. Collier has consistently declined to comment.
How much does PM earn?
According to the SRC report:
• Prime Minister: $59,680 a month, plus tax-free duty allowance of $8,960.
• Fleet of official cars, fully furnished by the State and manned by a complement of chauffeurs.
• Entitled to a maximum loan of $350,000 at a rate of six per cent an annum repayable over six years.
• Transportation allowance of $6,660 a month.
• Annual travel grant of $36,800.
• Thirty days’ vacation leave.
Judges’ Earnings:
• Chief Justice: $50,350 a month (tax-free)
• Housing allowance: $28,000.
• Transport allowance: $5,040.
• Justice of Appeal: $42,020 a month (tax-free).
• Housing allowance: $24,000.
• Transport allowance: $4,560.
• Puisne Judge: $37,300 a month (tax-free).
• Housing allowance: $24,000.
• Transport allowance: $4,560.
These higher Judiciary members are also entitled to:
• Loan up to $350,000 at six per cent an annum repayable over six years.
• Personal chauffeur.
• $200/day subsistence allowance.