The Office of the Prime Minister, (OPM) on Friday has announced that Dr. Andrew Holness will accept the full salary and emoluments attached to the office, retroactive to September last year.
That means Holness will now earn a salary of $28.5 million ( One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) – this is up from the current salary of just over $9 million.
In a statement, the OPM said that following “careful review and internal consultations,” it was agreed that the prime minister should accept the compensation structure previously set for the post.
In May 2023, Holness declined to accept the adjusted compensation package following fierce public backlash against the salary increases granted to the political directorate
At the time, the Prime Minister noted that “another prime minister in the future or a new mandate may give an opportunity to reconsider the prime minister’s salary.”
Friday’s release from OPM noted that the decision to accept the full salary was taken last year after the new administration was in place. However, its implementation was delayed due to the impact of Hurricane Melissa.
Parliament has since been advised to effect the change retroactive to September 2025.
OPM added that adjustments are to follow for the pensions of former prime ministers and their surviving spouses. Former prime ministers are paid a pension equal to the sitting head of government.
The change will benefit former Prime Ministers PJ Patterson, Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller. (CMC)
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