Moves afoot for Max to go?

By ANDRE BAGOO Thursday, May 28 2009

GOVERNMENT yesterday tabled legislation regulating the pensions to be paid to former Presidents, a move which may be viewed by some as laying the groundwork for the possible resignation of President George Maxwell Richards.

The ‘President’s Emoluments (Amendment) Bill 2009’ was quietly laid in the House of Representatives by Leader of Government Business Colm Imbert. The bill seeks to amend the President’s Emoluments Act “to ensure that the pension payable to former holders of the Office of the President is reviewed every six years from the date the holder of the office ceased to be President.” Clause 3 of the bill makes former Presidents “eligible on every sixth anniversary of the date he ceased to be President for a revised pension equivalent to salary payable to the incumbent on that date.”
The review of pensions payable to former presidents may, thus, be revised upwards in an inflationary period, for instance. A 2003 report of the Salary Review Commission raised the President’s salary from $26,000 to $33,000.

The ‘President’s Emoluments (Amendment) Bill 2009’ was not placed on the Order Paper for the Day, but rather the Supplemental Order Paper which is only issued moments before a sitting of Parliament.

Since he returned from vacation on Monday, President George Maxwell Richards has remained silent over calls for him to resign.

The President refused a meeting with members of the Congress of the People (COP) and carried on with routine issues such as the appointment of temporary senators. His explanation of how he came to appoint the members of the last Integrity Commission has failed to allay concerns that he adequately vetted his appointees.

To date the President has failed to respond to any questions sent to him on the issue by Newsday.

Yay, that is how the PNM does operate.......pay the focker off and let em relax in style......fock Integrity Comm and all who want statement.

No integrity comm. for all d PNM teefs.