Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr Roger Luncheon has dismissed moves by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Carl Greenidge to table a motion in the House to repeal the Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act as grandstanding.
“I can’t imagine a former minister, who served in some very difficult times, having lost the regard for due process,” he said.
The HPS explained that there is nothing a parliamentary motion can do to amend or repeal extant legislation.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon
The Former President’s (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act enshrines in legislation, the benefits to former presidents of Guyana in a statute-based approach, and stipulates that “every person who having held the office of President and ceased to hold that office by virtue of provisions of Article 92 of the Constitution or otherwise shall, during the remainder of his lifetime, be entitled to certain benefits.
These benefits include; payment of expenses incurred in the provision and use of water, electricity and telephone services at their place of residence in Guyana; services of personal and household staff, including an attendant and a gardener; services of clerical and technical staff if requested; free medical attendance and treatment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by him for the medical attendance or treatment of himself and the dependant members of his family; full-time personal security and presidential guard service at the place of residence; motor vehicles provided and maintained by the state and annual vacation allowance and tax exemptions enjoyed by a serving president.
The APNU in another motion is also seeking to have all the service commissions and the Audit Office be removed as budget agencies, and be restored as autonomous agencies drawing down from the Consolidated Fund.
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