Minister rebuffs excessive travel allowance claims

Home Affairs Minister Wilfred Abrahams has forcefully rejected Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne’s allegations that the prime minister and other government ministers receive a daily allowance of US$1 000 ($2 000) when travelling abroad.

“That is untrue,” Abrahams declared in a statement on Wednesday, noting that the travel allowances have not been changed in 23 years.

During a public meeting on Sunday hosted by activist Marcia Weekes’ Roadside Parliament at Hastings Rocks, Thorne questioned the government’s spending as he called on the Mottley administration to account for its stewardship. He reiterated concerns about government spending on overseas travel, alleging that it included a “US$1 000” per diem allowance.

But Abrahams made clear that the travel funds allocated to public officials and civil servants are standard and have been set by the Ministry of the Public Service since March 20 2001, “and have never been changed or upgraded since then”.

He also sought to remind the opposition leader that the same rates apply to his office.

Abrahams explained: “There are categories which govern the rate to which government office holders, whether at the political level or the civil service, are entitled.

“Category one, which includes the president, prime minister, chief justice, members of the Cabinet, president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Assembly, leader of the opposition, former prime ministers, National Heroes and special envoys, receive a per diem allowance of US$175 [$350] broken down as follows: meal allowance US$90 [$180], subsistence allowance US$60 [$120], travel allowance US$25 [$50]. The prime minister also gets an additional entertainment allowance of US$150 [$300]. This money is expected to cover travel, taxi fares, meals and all other incidentals.”

Abrahams added that the total sum received by ministers is US$175 ($350) and by the prime minister US$325 ($650), “which is nowhere near the $1 000 which has been put out to the public and is being circulated as a fact.” (BT/BGIS)