Aubyn Hill paid $43 million for sugar consultancy

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Aubyn Hill paid $43 million for sugar consultancy
Published: Tuesday February 14, 2012 | 4:00 pm4 Comments

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

Former banker Aubyn Hill was paid over $43 million for his role in leading the divestment of Jamaica's sugar assets.

The revelation was made today at Parliament. Hill served SCJ Holdings as a consultant from August, 2008 to October, 2011. He became CEO of SCJ Holdings in January 2010.

Hill's contract with SCJ Holdings came under scrutiny by the contractor general, who forwarded his findings to the director of public prosecutions, but who in turn found no basis on which to proceed.

In September 2010, Contractor General Greg Christie accused Hill along with former minister Christopher Tufton and his permanent Secretary Donovan Stanberry of breaching the perjury law.

The OCG's special report of investigation into multimillion-dollar consultancy contracts to businessman Aubyn Hill also had alleged among other things, that the contracts were awarded in an unlawful, irregular and improper manner.

Agriculture minister Roger Clarke today told the House of Representatives in a statement today that the Government has had to absorb debt of $35 billion for the privatisation of the sugar assets.

It was initially projected that $14.8 billion would have been the cost to the public purse.

The government owns about 47,000 hectares of sugar lands, 38,000 hectares of which were leased under the divestment programme.

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Re: Aubyn Hill paid $43 million for sugar consultancy

outrageous!

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salary package was “value for money”


Hill’s $43 million salary package was “value for money”
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Former Chief Executive Officer of the state-run SCJ Holdings, Aubyn Hill, has mounted a strong defence following news that he was paid more than 40 million dollars for leading the divestment of the country's sugar assets.

SCJ Holdings was responsible for the sale of the five sugar factories and six estates which were owned by the Government of Jamaica.

During the period Mr. Hill's contract with the company was repeatedly the subject of scrutiny.

Controversy was ignited in October 2010 when it was revealed that his consultancy firm, Corporate Strategies, was being paid an average one-point-nine million dollars each month.

In Parliament on Tuesday February 14, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, revealed that Mr. Hill received a total of 43 million dollars.

Speaking with RJR News Mr. Hill declared that the country received value for money.

He said it was fair pay for the volume of work done, and the long term savings for the country.

The privatisation of the sugar factories was completed last August when the Chinese firm, Complant, officially assumed ownership of Frome, Monymusk and Bernard Lodge.

In the meantime, the leadership of the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association, is raising questions about the 43 million dollars paid to Mr. Hill.

Chairman of the Association, Allan Rickards, says he does not believe the payment was justified.

Former Agriculture Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says he would await a copy of Mr. Clarke's statement to Parliament before making a comment.