Opposition MP Michael Dunkley has called for a shake up on how Cabinet ministers are paid after parliamentary questions revealed there are no strict guidelines on who is deemed part-time and who is deemed full-time.

There is a difference of $50,000 per year with full-time ministers pulling in $150,000 and part-time ministers getting $100,000.

But Mr. Dunkley noted that two of the most important Cabinet ministers — Finance Minister Paula Cox and Education Minister Randy Horton are part-time.

Other than Social Rehabilitation Minister Dale Butler, all other Ministers are full-time.

Asked how ministers were assessed Premier Ewart Brown said there were no statutory definitions or guidance on determining whether or not a Ministerial position is full-time.

But he said the Premier bore in mind criteria such as the size and budget of the Ministry, its workload, the number of full-time Ministers required to enable good governance and economic factors.

Mr. Dunkley said: “His answer seems to me to reveal a Government which is either so disorganised or more likely, couldn’t care less which Ministers are full- and which are part-time.

“What seemed to be important for the Government was being able to jack up the salary, and make a little bonanza of an extra $50,000 a year (that’s all some working men and women earn in a year) available to whoever wants it.”

And he added: “Guess who tops the list of part-time Ministers? The Honourable Paula Cox, Minister of Finance — the Minister who carries more responsibility on her shoulders than any of the rest of them and the Minister of Education, Hon. Randy Horton.

“These questions and subsequent answers show that the method used by the PLP Government to arrive at the latest remuneration levels is severely flawed.

“The next United Bermuda Party Government will ensure that this policy is reviewed and that Members of Parliament do not directly set their own compensation package.”