$133,000 A MONTH
Cabinet considers salary for new Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs
By Akile Simon (T&T Express).
DWAYNE GIBBS, the country's next Commissioner of Police, will rake in a salary of $1.5 million annually, once Cabinet approves a package he negotiated with government officials earlier this week.
Gibbs, according to information obtained by the Express yesterday, will receive a monthly salary of $132,916, while his fellow Canadian, Jack Ewatski, will take home a salary of $106,333.
This means that Gibbs will receive $92,916 more than the average salary of a Commissioner of Police. Acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert receives an average monthly salary of $40,000.
Philbert's basic salary is an estimated $31,000 but he gets allowances amounting to $9,000, the Express understands. The basic salary of Deputy Commissioners of Police Stephen Williams and Maurice Piggott is $24,000. The senior officers also take home allowances amounting to $7,000, which takes their salary to $31,000 before tax.
The Express understands the two Canadians are being paid in US currency, which means Gibbs will be paid an average US$22,200, while Ewatski will get US$17,700. These salaries mean Gibbs and Ewatski will be the highest paid Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police in the history of the Police Service.
Accommodation will also be provided for both men at the State's cost and they will each receive an unmarked private police vehicle, apart from their official police vehicle.
Contacted last evening by phone about the proposed salaries, Gibbs and Ewatski said they did not wish to comment since the negotiations were to be approved by Cabinet. Both men agreed to the proposals outlined in their contractual obligations earlier this week, when they met with Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Brigadier John Sandy at the AG's Port of Spain office.
After that meeting, Ramlogan told the Express that the proposals which were accepted by both men had to get Cabinet approval. Cabinet met yesterday and the Express understands the remuneration packages of both men were discussed and referred to the Finance and General Purposes Committee.
The committee, which includes Finance Minister Winston Dookeran, is expected to meet on Monday to discuss the men's salary arrangements and forward its recommendation back to Cabinet for approval.
Speaking from Canada last night, Gibbs said once Cabinet approves his terms and condition, he should be in the country by mid-September, since he had a previous engagement.
"I am hoping that once everything is finalised, I should be in Trinidad and Tobago by mid-September. No date has been finalised yet as to when I would arrive in the country to take up duties," he said.
Ewatski, also speaking from Canada, said he would be available for duty as soon as a decision was taken by Cabinet.
