Attorney General Anil Nandlall has announced that the government is set to introduce the Former Presidents’ Benefits and Other Facilities Bill in the National Assembly this coming Friday.
During his Issues in the News programme, Nandlall explained that the new legislation aims to return the legal framework governing retirement benefits for former presidents to the structure established under the original 2010 Act.
The Attorney General pointed to what he described as inconsistencies introduced by the previous APNU+AFC administration through amendments passed in 2015 and 2016. The proposed bill seeks to repeal those legislative changes, effectively reverting to the original 2010 guidelines.
Nandlall emphasized that the government’s position is rooted in equality, asserting that all retired heads of state should be entitled to the same standard package of benefits. He noted that even former President David Granger has received benefits consistent with the provisions of the original 2010 legislation.
The move to table this bill represents a significant shift in the administration’s approach to presidential retirement packages. By standardizing the facilities and benefits, the government aims to resolve the legal complexities that have surrounded the issue for several years.
Further details regarding the specific components of the reinstated benefits package are expected to be disclosed when the bill is formally presented to the National Assembly on Friday.
