By Robert Hart, Staff ReporterGOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS are receiving $326 million per year, more than three times the figure initially revealed in March.
The information is contained in the Report on Consultants/Advisers in the Public Sector, which was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
Speaking in the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister said the report indicated that the total number of persons termed "consultant", "special adviser" or "adviser/consultant" stands at 144. Of that number, 76 are employed within the civil service and 68 in parastatals (statutory corporations and government companies).
"In the parastatals, the total annual emoluments for the consultants amount to $173 million, which represents an average cost of $2.56 million per person," Mr. Patterson said.
DOLED OUT
However, the Prime Minister made no mention of the $152 million doled out to consultants within the civil service. According to the report, conducted at the request of the Prime Minister by Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Carlton Davis, the civil service consultants numbered 12 more than stated in a Ministry of Finance and Planning report tabled earlier this year. That report made no mention of the parastatal consultants.
"Whilst there have been some slight changes for a couple of Ministries, the main reason for the difference is that the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Sports was at the time being reconstituted so the data for that Ministry only became available during the course of this exercise," the Cabinet Secretary stated in his report.
In March, the Finance Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, presented his report, in the House of Representatives, revealing 64 consultants reaping in more than $95 million in yearly salaries.
Dr. Davies' disclosure came through written answers to questions posed by Audley Shaw, the Jamaica Labour Party's spokesman on finance.
In the wake of the long-standing outcry against the questionable hiring of Government consultants, many of whom are former Members of Parliament connected to the governing People's National Party, Prime Minister Patterson has announced an immediate suspension on the hiring of Government consultants, advisers and special advisers for a period of three months.
But, there will be an exception, as consultants will still be hired for projects already approved and which have to be implemented in a timely manner.
Mr. Patterson said that "all such appointments must receive the prior approval of Cabinet."
