Former Prime Minister Stuart Young will not receive a million-dollar pension for life. The decision was finalized on Monday when five of nine Independent Senators voted with the Government to pass the Prime Minister’s Pension (Amendment) Bill 2025, which abolishes the pension. The Bill was passed with a special three-fifths majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
20 members voted in favor, including 15 Government Senators and five Independent Senators. 10 members, including six PNM Opposition Senators, abstained. Independent Senator Courtney McNish supported the Bill, arguing that Young did not deserve the pension.
He described the proposed tiered model as best practice and dismissed concerns about its retroactivity. McNish claimed that the public is unhappy with the idea of such a pension, based on calls he received from concerned citizens. Attorney General John Jeremie stated that the Senate’s role is to create laws for peace, good order, and governance.
McNish emphasized the need to address the “hole in the law” that existed for 56 years, arguing that the Bill promotes fairness, equity, and good governance.
Pension bill passes despite concerns
Senator Michael Simon Victor de la Bastide SC also supported the Bill, considering it unfair for someone who served only 30 days to receive an $87,000-a-month pension.
He acknowledged that depriving Young of the pension could be seen as infringing on his constitutional rights but argued that not all impingements constitute a violation of human rights. Labour Minister Leroy Baptiste highlighted the inequity between Young’s potential pension and the earnings of other workers, noting the wider economic implications. De la Bastide further argued that simply because a law targets an individual does not make it unconstitutional, referring to judicial precedents.
Independent Senator Francis Lewis, while supporting key aspects of the Bill, expressed concern about its retroactive nature. He suggested removing the retrospective clause, allowing the affected individual to decide whether to accept the pension. Independent Senator Deoroop Teemal supported the Bill’s intent to create a more equitable governance structure.
He questioned the fiscal responsibility of paying a pension to someone with short-term service and emphasized that his support was based on the Bill meeting constitutional standards and promoting public accountability. Young served as Prime Minister from March 17 to April 28, 2025. His only recourse now is to challenge the constitutionality of the Bill in court.
