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Cash strapped Gov’t paying consultant Aubyn Hill millions
Thursday, 15 October 2009
There are growing concerns about the amount of money being spent by the Government on consultancy services.
RJR News has obtained documents which indicate that Aubyn Hill's consultancy firm Corporate Strategies is being paid an average $1.8 million each month for guiding the sugar divestment process.
According to invoices submitted to Donovan Stanbury, Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, for the months of June and July Mr. Hill received a total of $3.66 million.
This includes remuneration for a driver amounting to $70,000 in June and $85,000 in July.
It also includes petrol costs averaging $50,000 per month and telephone expenses.
However speaking in an interview with RJR News, Mr. Hill defended his fees.
"Not my salary ... this is like any other service company whether it is a consultancy company or a law firm, it would send a similar bill to its client. The Government happens to be the client in this instance so, I imagine that the lawyers and other consultancy companies would send a similar invoice ... that how you do it," he said.
Mr. Hill declared that his education and experience qualify him to conduct high-level negotiations for multi-million dollar deals on the Government's behalf.
Getting value for money
Some observers have raised eyebrows about the amount of money the Jamaica Labour Party administration is paying special advisors and consultants given the budget cuts and pending public sector lay-offs.
However, in a robust response to the question of whether the Government can afford him, Mr. Hill appeared to suggest they had no choice.
"I bring to the table 23 years of formal education the last two of which are from Harvard Business School and about 33 or so years of international banking experience from around the world, negotiating with all kinds of people, so you ask yourself is $5.8 billion worth that subsidy that we all have to bear as taxpayers or do you get qualified capable people to negotiate on your behalf. This is the issue, are you getting value for money," Mr. Hill said.
The contract between the Government and Mr. Hills consultancy firm ends when the last sugar factory up for divestment is sold.
Satisfied with Hill's services - MOA
And in a response, the Agriculture Ministry said Corporate Strategies has been paid approximately $27 million since its appointment to oversee sugar divestment negotiations since July 2008.
According to the ministry, it is satisfied that it has been receiving value for money in the contract with Mr. Hill and the expenditure is way below similar consultancy fees with respect to the divestment of other entities.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
There are growing concerns about the amount of money being spent by the Government on consultancy services.
RJR News has obtained documents which indicate that Aubyn Hill's consultancy firm Corporate Strategies is being paid an average $1.8 million each month for guiding the sugar divestment process.
According to invoices submitted to Donovan Stanbury, Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, for the months of June and July Mr. Hill received a total of $3.66 million.
This includes remuneration for a driver amounting to $70,000 in June and $85,000 in July.
It also includes petrol costs averaging $50,000 per month and telephone expenses.
However speaking in an interview with RJR News, Mr. Hill defended his fees.
"Not my salary ... this is like any other service company whether it is a consultancy company or a law firm, it would send a similar bill to its client. The Government happens to be the client in this instance so, I imagine that the lawyers and other consultancy companies would send a similar invoice ... that how you do it," he said.
Mr. Hill declared that his education and experience qualify him to conduct high-level negotiations for multi-million dollar deals on the Government's behalf.
Getting value for money
Some observers have raised eyebrows about the amount of money the Jamaica Labour Party administration is paying special advisors and consultants given the budget cuts and pending public sector lay-offs.
However, in a robust response to the question of whether the Government can afford him, Mr. Hill appeared to suggest they had no choice.
"I bring to the table 23 years of formal education the last two of which are from Harvard Business School and about 33 or so years of international banking experience from around the world, negotiating with all kinds of people, so you ask yourself is $5.8 billion worth that subsidy that we all have to bear as taxpayers or do you get qualified capable people to negotiate on your behalf. This is the issue, are you getting value for money," Mr. Hill said.
The contract between the Government and Mr. Hills consultancy firm ends when the last sugar factory up for divestment is sold.
Satisfied with Hill's services - MOA
And in a response, the Agriculture Ministry said Corporate Strategies has been paid approximately $27 million since its appointment to oversee sugar divestment negotiations since July 2008.
According to the ministry, it is satisfied that it has been receiving value for money in the contract with Mr. Hill and the expenditure is way below similar consultancy fees with respect to the divestment of other entities.
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