Robert Hart, Staff Reporter
THE GOVERNMENT has slashed 49 consultancy jobs since last year's out cry against the enormous $326 million in yearly salaries paid out to consultants and advisers in statutory organisations, Government companies and the civil service.
According to Ministry Paper No. 17/2004, recently tabled in Parliament, at least 13 consultants are now receiving in excess of $5 million per year.
The consultancy bill, which has since last year been cut to $278 million, now accounts for 95 Government consultants and advisers. A report from Cabinet Secretary Dr. Carlton Davis, tabled in the House of Representatives in July 2003, indicated that there were 144 consultants/advisers on the Government payroll at that time.
SUSPEND IMMEDIATELY
Last year Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who tabled the Cabinet Secretary's report, announced that he was suspending immediately, the hiring of Government consultants, advisers and special advisers.
Mr. Patterson had said 'the freeze' would remain in force for three months after which a determination would be made on how best to proceed. The freeze, the Prime Minister noted, was "to permit sufficient time for a clear definition of the role and functions of these categories of persons to be developed, approved by the Cabinet and then made public".
The report revealed that some of the top consultants were raking in more than $4 million a year in remuneration packages.
