Holness assembles $421 million Cabinet

Taxpayers will fork out more than $421 million each year to pay the salaries of the 18-member Cabinet assembled by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness to steer the country's affairs.

Eighteen ministers of Government were officially sworn into office yesterday during a ceremony at King's House, but their appointments come with a hefty price tag for taxpayers. The salary bill for the executive will swell following the appointments of junior ministers and any parliamentary secretary.

Based on the most recent salary structure, the bulk of the salaries -- $342,109,710 -- will go towards paying the 15 Cabinet ministers, each of whom will take home $22,807,314 a year.

Prime Minister Holness commands the highest individual salary, set at $28,587,893. It is unclear whether he will accept the huge salary package. In 2023, Holness declined the 214 per cent increase in his salary and opted to continue receiving his $9.1 million salary.

"A prime minister with a new mandate could always review the position," Holness said at the time.

He received a new mandate to continue as prime minister following his party's victory in the September 3 general election.

Holness, has charged members of his new Cabinet to approach their responsibilities with humility, discipline and teamwork.

"Our people will not measure us by how well we protect our portfolios but by how well we work as one Cabinet, as one Government, as one Jamaica," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Horace Chang, who was sworn in as deputy prime minister and minister of national security and peace, will be paid $25,729,103, per year.

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Fayval Williams, will earn a yearly salary of $24,586,588.

Beyond the Cabinet, other members of parliament also benefit from substantial salary packages. Ministers of state each receive $18,296,251 per year, while parliamentary secretaries earn $17,152,736 annually.

The Leader of the Opposition is compensated at the same level as the deputy prime minister, with a salary of $25,729,103.

The Speaker of the House is paid $22,807,314, and the Deputy Speaker collects $17,152,736.

Members of Parliament each take home $14,179,595 per year.