The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

TALL Pines MP Leslie Miller said Prime Minister Perry Christie should be “concerned” that the resignations of two “brilliant” men from Cabinet in the space of a year could create the wrong perception of his administration.

This perception, Mr Miller said, could cause “disenchanted” Bahamians to view the prime minister as having serious leadership issues.

Last week, it was revealed that Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez had tendered his resignation from Cabinet. The resignation reportedly takes effect at the end of December. Although Mr Christie first suggested that the departure was due to financial issues, Mr Gomez has said his reasons for leaving Cabinet were ethical and linked to a dispute with a government entity.

Mr Gomez’s resignation comes a year after Elizabeth MP Ryan Pinder, the former minister of financial services, quit his Cabinet post to take up a lucrative position at Deltec Bank and Trust.

“Mr Christie should be concerned that such brilliant minds have left the Cabinet,” Mr Miller said when contacted for comment. “But really I don’t think Bahamians realise the burdens that are placed on the backs of Cabinet ministers and MPs.”

Mr Miller further urged Mr Christie to move forward with increasing the salaries of members of Parliament and Cabinet ministers despite the prime minister’s suggestions that such a move could cost the Progressive Liberal Party politically.

Last week, in responding to questions from The Tribune, Mr Christie said he was of the view that MPs were deserving of pay increases, but officials were hesitant for fear that voters would not accept it.

However, Mr Miller said Bahamians “will live their lives complaining about everything” as he insisted that MPs and Cabinet ministers were underpaid.

While he agreed that no one should want to be elected just on the basis of salaries, Mr Miller said politicians should not be expected to serve the country to the detriment of their businesses and families who also need to survive.

“The fact is that Cabinet ministers are underpaid,” he said. “You have to give ministers a salary that is commensurate with the job and responsibilities that they have. So what if people complain? Bahamians will live their lives complaining. That is life, but that should not deter you.

“Increase the salary. (A previous) recommendation was $40,000 to $45,000 for an MP, $120,000 for Cabinet ministers and $15,000 for senators. That’s what they make everywhere else in the Caribbean.”

Mr Gomez has denied that his resignation from the post came because he was dissatisfied with his salary. Mr Gomez was paid $60,000 a year for his Cabinet post, with an additional $28,000 for being a member of Parliament.

Mr Miller said if the prime minister wants to ensure that there remains good talent in government, he must ensure the salaries are increased.

“We aren’t in there for the money but you should at least be able to feed your family.

“I would never go back in there (Cabinet) again. I just about lost my entire business when I was a minister. Why would I go back? Every minister, PLP or FNM who have their own business, most of them end up dying as paupers. You should not lose your business and sacrifice your family,” Mr Miller said.