Advisers/Consultants For Government Ministers
[Updated] Corey Butterfield, Davida Morris, Alexa Lightbourne, Sherrie Simmons, Trina Bean, and Cheryl-Ann Mapp have been working as consultants and/or advisers to Government Ministers.
This was stated by Premier David Burt in response to Parliamentary Questions from Michael Dunkley in the House of Assembly.
Mr Dunkley asked which Government Ministers haveadvisers/consultants and the replies were:
- Minister of Economic Development & Tourism/Minister Without Portfolio [since September 2017] – Mr. Corey Butterfield
- Minister of Education [since Jan. 2019] – Ms. Davida Morris
- Minister of Transport & Regulatory Affairs/Minister of Home Affairs [since 1st May 2018] – Ms. Alexa Lightbourne
- Minister of Legal Affairs [since Oct. 2018]– Mrs. Sherrie L. J. Simmons
- Minister of Public Works [since Sept. 2018] – Mrs. Trina Bean
- Minister of Transport & Regulatory Affairs – Mrs. Cheryl-Ann Mapp [22 January 2018 – 20 July 2018, 20 August 2018 – 14 September 2018 + Addendum to 31 October 2018]
Update 10.02pm: In response to queries, Premier David Burt said: “In keeping with the recommendations of the 2013 SAGE Commission it is time to enhance the operations of Ministries and adopt a structure that reflects the complexity of the work we expect of our Government.
“As I indicated in a statement to the House today, modern governance cannot sustain mindless austerity. The demands of more open, transparent and accountable government require a Minister and the team supporting him or her to have the capacity to meet these very demands.
“We cannot continue the struggle of combatting today’s issues with yesterday’s structure. It therefore follows that in each case, subject to the requisite budgetary approval and in accordance with the Ministerial Code of Conduct, I was pleased to approve these engagements.”
The Government added, “In response to further inquiries following the answers provided to Parliamentary Questions, the following information confirms:
Full Time:
- Mrs. Trina Bean is paid $63.57/hr
- Ms. Alexa Lightbourne is paid $58.68/hr
- Ms. Davida Morris is paid $63.57/hr
“In each case the advisor is required to work a 35hr work week and in every case the hours worked far exceeds this minimum 35 hour requirement. Persons hired as Ministerial advisers must meet their full health insurance, payroll tax, and social insurance expenses as self-employed persons,” the Government added.
Quick calculations show that $63.57 per hour for 35 hours works out to be $2,224.95, while $58.68 for 35 hours equates to $2053.80.
Part Time:
- Mr. Corey Butterfield is paid $58.68/hr
- Mrs. Sherrie L. J. Simmons is paid $57.48/hr
“These persons are paid hourly for work that is requested and completed,” the Government noted.
“In the case of Mrs. Cheryl-Ann Mapp her engagement was not a political appointment and her professional engagement was based on her legal and regulatory/ compliance expertise.”
The Premier continued: “These men and women form a necessary addition to the capacity within the Public Service and bring to bear a skill set required in the ongoing work of delivering on the policy imperatives for the people of Bermuda.”
Update: Mr Dunkley spoke about this during the session in the House
The Parliamentary questions and responses follow below [PDF here]:
Why does a Minister without Portfolio need a consultant?
And it would be helpful if they actually listed the skills/expertise these ‘consultants’ actually have in the areas on which they are consulting on.
Bigger (and more expensive) Cabinet, more ‘consultants’ and a an increased civil service since 2017 of more than 300 people.
Now are you guys beginning to understand why the PLP needs to bleed you for more taxes whilst simultaneously increasing the cost of living in this already expensive island? Certain people need to get paid while the majority have to pay for it.
Friends and family part deux.
Bla bla bla, OBA Friends and Family got a good pay day from America’s Cup and Lord knows whos pockets are getting lined from the rushed Airport deal.
Now lay down and wait for your turn again.
Do you have any proof of any of those accusations? If not then go lay down yourself.
Sadly Bermuda voters don’t care about this. RIP Bermuda…..the PLP will slowly destroy this island.
This is for sure the Isles of devils.
How much are you getting?
*Bla bla bla, OBA Friends and Family*
haha , you really are a misinformed twat , aren’t you ?
You never saw the then speaker of the house and other loyal plpers driving those limos and making out like bandits.
Keep crying your rivers for me with your partisan lies .. lol
oh you didn’t got anything ?
many , many others did , but they acted and didn’t waited for a spoon feed like you.
Onion juice you are definitely full of it ….the AC made bermuda a whole lot of money that actually was spread around but being an osterich that only has ears for what your great plp tell you you won’t ever accept it …. and that goes for the airport as well but the situation about consultants are interesting because it shows how little the ministers actually know about there position and / or they don’t have any faith in their Chief civil Servant …already told the plp ministers were clueless this is proof
proof? While these consultants are being paid, while we have extra ministers, while taxes, check out prices and health costs are increasing Government is just taking more people on …. thanks, I guess I know exactly where my extra taxes are going
Won’t be anything left by the time the PLP have finished with their grubby little fingers in the cookie jar.
So, sad. This is why your taxes are going up.
Lmao. Once again proving how utterly useless you are lmao. How u makin out OJ? How that shaft feel? U got em in and they are ramming u bro. Hahahahaha. Eat it!!
25-11 right?
Else for the comments he made on twitter…. he should have been fired he will always been known as the “flip flopper”
25-11. lol.
The self-dealing is exceeded only by their incompetence.
Back in an even deeper hole we go.
What advice could a radio talk personality provide to the Minister of Legal Affairs?
PR advice ….?
What expertise does a radio talk show host have that a minister of legal affairs needs?
None. None whatsoever. THis, and all the others, are rewards for “service” to the cause. Nothing more.
Well, whatever she brings to the table can’t be too taxing. She seems to have plenty of time to do both jobs.
The so called talk show host has the present gov by the you know whats.
dang this government is tanking us big time spend spend spend it will all end in tears
WOW
You cannot be serious!
The Premier must have received advice on the friends and family gravy train from Trump!
How much do they get paid and how many hours do they put in? Were/are these positions advertised? I know one that has a job that seems to keep her busy in the afternoon. Who is responsible for the fire hydrants again? I know 25-11, ac, airport blah blah blah….
When David Burt was told by his bosses he had to Get Sherri Simmons on the payroll, i like to think he was embarrassed and ashamed. what an idiotic group
One of Sherrie’s most often used comments is, “I’m not a lawyer, but….” Can someone please advise what legal experience Sherrie has to be hired as a consultant for the Minister of Legal Affairs. I’m not seeking nasty or vindictive comments. I just would like to undertsnad what legal expertise Sherrie brings to the table. Perhaps the Premier could answer this question personally.
The Premier will give flip flopper what ever he wants
Cost of this?
BORN BERMUDIANS, do not latch onto anything stated or said by the FORMER premier michael dunkley. Look clearly and carefully at his ACTIONS AND BEHAVIOURS in 2012-2016, which led to him being kicked out. Remember his comment …”my hands are tied.”
TRUTH??? HONESTY??INTEGRITY????
Over the days, weeks, months to follow: listen, assess, remember, even keep a log of words spoken, internalize, when necessary!!
I notice you can’t address the point here about cushy consultancy gigs with no value whatsoever going to PLP elite insiders. Instead you start blabbing on about ‘born Bermudians’. The sheet you people talk. Frikin morons.
yes I too hope that all listen and remember what our government is saying boy Straightforward you haven’t a clue what you are asking …your beloved plp politicians cant remember the crap they spew let alone make them responsible….this government need to resign that is our only hope 16 years of failed management hasn’t shown you what will …..and if you think you can go to the motherland forget that too you wouldn’t like living there
Dunkley Derangement Syndrome on full display.
Hey, why don’t you tell us what BORN BERMUDIAN is, spell it out.
I am a born Bermudian and I think Mr Dunkley makes more sense than anyone else in local politics. You do not sound like a born Bermudian to me.
My lasting memory of Michael Dunkley will be that he did NOT call a snap election when Marc Bean was sick and about to be replaced. The PLP was in complete disarray. He could have done so (as a born Bermudian) as Sir John Swan (another born Bermudian) did 30 years before. Michael Dunkley did not. He did the honourable thing, not the politically expedient thing. He allowed the PLP to rebuild.
History will judge Michael Dunkley, but that will be my lasting memory of him.
I can’t get the vision of hogs with their heads buried in a feeding trough out of mine.
It makes total sense too many civil servants cant get out of their own way and are not progressing Bermuda it is certainly needed I know of many other countries that do the same that’s the only way changes will be made
The hourly rate government has provided results in yearly salaries in the range of 115,000 to 105,00 for Bean, Lightbourne and Morris.
Along with Pastor Bean salary is more than 500,000 a year.