Governor's pay cut makes news in the UK

THURSDAY, APRIL 5: A pay cut for Bermuda’s Governor is making news in the UK.

The Daily Telegraph reported today that Governor-designate George Fergusson will take a five per cent cut in his $231,800 salary.

As previously reported by the Bermuda Sun, the Telegraph’s Mandrake states that career diplomat Mr Fergusson, 56, had agreed to an $11,590 reduction before taking up residence in Government House in the summer. He will succeed Sir Richard Gozney.

Mandrake added that the move followed complaints by ex-Premier Dr Ewart Brown at a Caribbean conference that — even though MPs had agreed to a five per cent pay cut — no one had yet suggested that the Governor follow suit.

Subsequently, a statement was issued by Government House: “The Governor-designate is clear that as a member of the Bermuda Public Service, he would expect to take his share of any public service pay cut.”

The conservative-leaning Daily Telegraph is one of the UK’s most respected newspapers.