The Cabinet recently approved the hiring of up to nine “ministerial political advisers” who each could be paid as much as $120,000 per year under a system similar to the one used in the United Kingdom, according to a summary of a July 8 Cabinet meeting released last Thursday.
Premier Andrew Fahie defended the plan as a long-needed step to aid ministers at a time when their responsibilities are expanding and the public service is struggling to keep up.
But the decision quickly sparked outcry from opposition members and others, who derided the initiative as wasteful spending on political purposes at a time when government instead should be concentrating on funding responses to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.
“This is not only wrong! This is outrageous! And we must not accept it!” Opposition Leader Marlon Penn wrote in a July 26 statement, calling the move “wrong on so many levels.” “We must stand united against the unconscionable decision being levied upon us.”
But Mr. Fahie fired back in a broadcast last Monday.
“This matter has been tossed around by government for the last 20 years and has been further compounded since the addition of junior ministers in the new Constitution of 2007,” he said. “The expectations from ministers and junior ministers have significantly increased over the years, but the resources that should be available to ministers and junior ministers has been allowed to be depleted, where it is clear now that the public service has institutional capacity issues.”
Cabinet decision
The decision approved by Cabinet would allow up to three consultants for the premier and one for each minister and junior minister, according to the Cabinet Office summary.
The advisers would be hired to support the ministers by assisting with research, policy advice and speech writing.
The terms explicitly allow them to assist in duties that in- corporate political considerations “in a manner that would not be permissible for a permanent public officer,” according to the Cabinet summary.
The tender process also was waived, allowing each adviser to be paid up to $120,000 each year under a no-bid deal.
“Each contract for each ministerial political adviser does not cover gratuity payments, annual leave and sick leave,” the Cabinet summary added.
Opposition protests
In the opposition leader’s Monday statement, he questioned the timing of the move, alleging that the government “has yet to tell us their plans for rebuilding the territory’s schools and improving our educational system.”
He also called unaccounted Covid-19 stimulus spending a “wastage of $40 million.”
“We can all recount political hirees who were paid exorbitant fees with undefined terms of reference which have yet to be made known,” he said. “To this day, those political hirees have produced absolutely nothing for your money.”
Turnbull (R-D2) also weighed in with similar criticisms, commenting in a Friday Facebook post that with nine political ad- visors each paid the maximum $120,000 per year, taxpayers would be funding them at a cost of $1,080,000 annually.
If the premier only hired one advisor instead of the al- lowed three, he said, that cost would amount to $840,000.
“What is even more troubling is the fact that I know vigorous attempts will be made to try to justify this apparently insensitive decision, which will be paid for by the people in these dismal times,” he wrote. “In my view, this administration is seemingly hiring political advisors to try to secure seats for the next election at the expense of the hurting people.”
Premier ’s response
In his Tuesday Facebook broadcast, however, the premier said that not all consultants will be paid the maximum rate.
Instead, he explained, the planned rate is between $79,440 and $120,000 per year for advisers to the premier, while advisers to the other ministers could have salaries between $60,408 and $84,408.
“So if the premier and the ministers and junior ministers engage the maximum allowed number of advisers, the total amount to be paid across all ministers will be between $600,768 on the low side to no more than $866,448,” he said.
He added that the consultants are not entitled to any other benefits.
Mr. Fahie also argued that opposition members had neglected to provide needed assistance to public officers while they were serving in previous governments.
By contrast, he said, his government has been addressing issues by carrying out a job reclassification and salary review for the public service.
Adding that previous governments had spent taxpayers’ money “callously,” he cited the failed BVI Airways deal as one example but said he wouldn’t go into any other areas.
Mr. Fahie also said the consultants would help speed up the delivery of services in the public service. The plan, he added, was met with support from the Deputy Governor’s Office and “reinforced by correspondence with the Governor’s Office.”
“It is clear this decision was not just pulled out of a hat,” he said.
Though the Cabinet summary noted that the plan is similar to a model used in the UK, Mr. Fahie said there are differences in the VI approach.
The VI consultants, he said, will not be allowed to “function as a lobbyist” as their counterparts do in the UK.
“The adviser’s role in the [VI] is strictly research, policy analysis, and to assist the minister with certain aspects of communications messaging,” he said.
The VI, he added, will apply a code of conduct to the advisers. Mr. Turnbull urged Mr. Fahie to publicise the code of conduct, as well as the terms and
conditions of each contract.