Vanuatu MPs’ allowances under spotlight 

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Clerk Manuake (2nd from right) launching the MP’s Entitlements Poster. Picture: VANUATU DAILY POST

PORT VILA, 21 FEBRUARY 2020 (VANUATU DAILY POST) – Vanuatu Members of Parliament (MPs) will be more cautious on how they use their entitlements now that the people of Vanuatu know how much money the Parliament is giving them to serve their constituencies.

People know very little how much their elected representatives are getting, but thanks to a collaboration by the Parliament, Transparency International Vanuatu (TIV) and the Right to Information (RTI) Team, this is changing.

While voters are getting ready for the 2020 General Election, Parliament, TIV and the RTI Team launched an initiative to promote a wider understanding about the whole purpose of voting and what to expect after electing a candidate this week.

This initiative is the release of an A-3 size poster featuring the entitlements and benefits of the MPs prescribed under the Official Salaries Act and the MPs (Expenses and Allowances) (Amendment) Act No.45 of 2017.

The posters will be distributed to communities.

Clerk of Parliament, Raymond Manuake, said the initiative aims to ensure that MPs become examples of good governance.

“It falls in line with the NSDP Goal of building strong and effective institutions,” he said. “The RTI Law passed by parliament in 2016 aims to ensure the government is more open and transparent, which means that the public has the right to access information from public offices.

“The last RTI enforcement order signed by the Prime Minister last year covered parliament and other public offices. This means that the funds allocated by parliament for MPs to spend in their constituencies are now under a magnifying glass.

“These figures are no longer a secret and electors have the right to know how they are being spent.”

An MP is entitled to Vt5,989,600 (US$50,624) responsibility allowance and Vt1,605,000 (US$13,565) allowance — totalling to Vt7,594,600 (US$64,189) per year.

Of that Vt7,594,600 (US$64,189), Vt292,200 (US$2,466) is paid directly into the MP’s bank accounts every payday. MPs are required to use this money to purchase tickets so that they can visit their constituencies and carry out their responsibilities.

Each MP is also entitled to an allocation of Vt3 million per year which is obtained through an application to the Speaker’s office, based on quotation or invoices for community development activities.

Apart from the Vt3 million allocation, responsibility and touring allowances, MPs are entitled to be paid a sitting and accommodation allowance of Vt7,500 (US$63) each time the parliament meets.

MPs can also get additional compensation starting at over Vt1 million (US$8,432) when they serve in additional roles.

They get a salary of Vt6,738, 300 (US$56,844) for serving as a minister, Vt2,202,300 (US$18,578) as chairman of a parliamentary committee and Vt2,585,300 (US$21,797) as the Opposition Whip.

The Leader of Opposition whose role is to question and hold the government accountable to the public gets Vt6, 356, 900(US$53,598) while the Deputy Leader of the opposition gets Vt2, 986, 600 (US$25,163).

Any MP elected as the Government Whip gets Vt3,029,600 (US$25,526) and the Leader of Government Business receives Vt3,408,300 (US$28,773).

The First Deputy Speaker, Second Deputy Speaker, Third Deputy Speaker and Fourth Deputy get Vt1,838, 400 (US$15,520) each and the Speaker of Parliament gets Vt7,580,600 (US$63,962)

The highest is the Prime Minister who gets Vt9,010,800 (US$76,030).

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