Caribbean360: Government advisors bag big bucks despite austerity budget

Government advisors bag big bucks despite austerity budget
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Chris Hoyos on 11/07/2012 08:52:00
 
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday July 11, 2012 – While Minister of Finance Dr
Peter Phillips has presented Jamaica with a belt-tightening Budget to reflect
the state of the economy, it would seem that some members of the Cabinet
aren’t feeling austerity’s pinch.
Jamaica’s Gleaner newspaper has confirmed that even as Phillips was tacking on
tax to certain basic food items to raise revenue, at least eight Cabinet members
were adding millions annually to the government's wage bill.
Information released to the paper under the Access To Information (ATI) Act
reveals the eight Cabinet members committing close to JAM$100million annually in
wages to some 40 consultants and executive/personal assistants who were hired
between January and June this year.
That figure could grow when the contracts expire, as most have a gratuity
clause, usually 25 percent of basic salary per annum, written into the
agreements.
The official documents secured by the Gleaner under the ATI Act further revealed
that the Ministry of Finance and Planning headed by Phillips was responsible for
hiring the most advisors and assistants of the eight ministries randomly placed
under the microscope.
That ministry now has a new chief technical advisor, an advisor, a special
advisor, a communications advisor, two special assistants, two executive
assistants and an administrative assistant, at a cost of $22.6million.
The Ministry of Education, with its three senior advisors to Minister Ronald
Thwaites and a special assistant in the office of the Minister of Education,
accounted for the second-largest payout to advisors and consultants. Gleaner
tabulations put the education ministry's bill for advisors at $14.7 million per
annum.
Dr Franklin Johnston, one of the senior advisors to Thwaites, collects a
$5million annual basic salary and travelling allowance of $738,300, making him
the highest paid consultant in the eight ministries under review.
According to the Ministry of Finance, travelling allowances were revised on
April 1, 2012 and officers who were receiving $738,300 per annum have moved up
to $904,428.
Johnston reportedly could not immediately say if his travelling allowance was
increased.
The justice ministry, with its four advisors and an executive assistant,
including a consultant to the permanent secretary, should be forking out no less
than $13.8million annually for their services.
The Gleaner said it was a “ding-dong battle” between the Ministry of
Industry, Investment and Commerce and the Ministry of Transport, Works and
Housing, with the former set to pay out $11.8 million to its five advisors and
assistants and the latter to pay out $11.9million per annum to its six advisors
and assistants in basic salaries and travelling allowances.
The security ministry was allowed to employ three consultants at an annual cost
of $4.9million but was told by the finance ministry that, in one instance,
approval was given with the understanding that provisions were made in its
existing budget to meet the payment.
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