Clarification Of Efficiency Committee Payments
The Chairperson was paid $5,000 a month and three of the members were paid $2,000 a month for the Efficiency Committee, with the Government explaining that the “two trade union representatives who served on the board elected not to receive compensation” and “public officers who sit on boards are not paid as they are giving guidance in the context of their jobs.”
Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Minister for the Cabinet Office Wayne Furbert provided an overview of the work of the Efficiency Committee, saying the “cost to the taxpayer for the work of the Efficiency Committee was approximately $130,000. However, with the improvement in efficiency and better controls, the Committee was able to obtain revenue for the taxpayer over $12 million dollars, a return of investment of over 9,130%.”
Following a question from the OBA’s Pat Gordon Pamplin, Minister Furbert explained that breakdown of costs included $5,000 per month for him as Chairman, and $2,000 a month remuneration for the members, and the payment to Minister Furbert, who was at that time serving as the Junior Minister of Finance, drew criticism from the Opposition in Parliament on Friday.
This Committee met 32 times between the dates of 13 March 2018 and March 31st, 2019, a time span of approximately one year, and the Committee consisted of Minister Wayne Furbert [Chairman], Cherie-Lynn Whitter [Permanent Secretary of Government Reform], Tina Tucker [Director of Budget], Ianthia Fox [Senior Management Consultant], Edward Ball Jr [BPSU Representative], Glenn Simmons [BIU Representative], Senator James Jardine, Richard James, and Karamoko Darrel-Dickens [Government IT Representative].
However not all Committee members were paid, with BPSU Representative Ed Ball confirming that he “did not receive any public funds of $2000 per month as a member of the Efficiency Committee,” and served on the Committee pro bono; as in for free.
In response to a request for clarification of payments, a Government spokesperson said, “The Efficiency Committee focused on areas where the greatest value could be achieved and made 93 recommendations covering a wide range of Departments. The cost to the taxpayer for the work of the Efficiency Committee was approximately $130,000.
“However, with the improvement in efficiency and better controls, the Committee was able to obtain revenue for the taxpayer of over $12 million dollars, a return on investment of 9,130%. This was excellent work, great value for money and resulted in $12 million additional revenue for the people of Bermuda.
“Members of Bermuda Government Boards and Committees are paid, this is not unusual. However, public officers who sit on boards are not paid as they are giving guidance in the context of their jobs. The two trade union representatives who served on the board elected not to receive compensation.
“The persons that received compensation for service on the Efficiency Committee were as follows:
- Wayne Furbert [Chair] – $5,000 per month
- James Jardine – $2,000 per month
- Mr. Richard James – $2,000 per month
- Karamoko Darrel-Dickens – $2,000 for 2 months [after conclusion of his government service]
The Efficiency Committee’s report follows below [PDF here]:
The whole point about this is that furbert was a minister at the time, albeit a junior minister, and he was already getting paid for being a junior minister.
In fact take his junior minister salary, 67k, plus the 60k for this committee and he has earned $127k – 30k less than a full time minister and more than a part time minister.
Also, why is a government spokesperson talking about excellent work. That is for elected officials to say as that is a political response not a civil service response
can someone please explain this to the sheeple.
It really must p!ss of the PLP backbench that a former UBP leader gets that kind of money and is one of the Premier’s chosen ones
Unethical but not illegal covers a multitude of sins. When politicians still had a small amount of conscience detailed regulations were not needed. However around 2007 a new breed appeared at the top echelon and proceeded to take advantage of the lack of detail in the laws. They still do.
F and F is still working
Time for our Govenor to step in,this reminds me of what happened in the Turks and Caicos( Misicks friends and family)
If you think it’s time for the Guv to step in you’re about 11-12 years too late with that thought .
Collecting debts owed is now a 9,130% return on payments to Mr. Furbert and his committee?
What kind of economics is that?!?!?!?
And to think that Wayne Furbert is in the church. This says a lot. Frightening.
We are not stupid. Out of the 93 recommendations, which ones were implemented and how was the $12m calculated?
Also was there any overlap with the SAGE report?
Do not hold your breath waiting for an answer
Obviously the Financial Secretary approved this approach. Now that he has the evidence of incompetent Civil Servants in the identified departments; he must now refer the individuals to the Head of the Public Service for disciplinary action.
This is an absolute scandal. He effectively pays himself to do what he should have been doing all along…looking for efficiencies. But no, here, being efficient is a “special job” that requires an extra $130,000 paid to insiders.
EXACTLY! where are the marchers? where are the paid protestors shouting at him? c’mon Tweedy? c’mon Erat?
Just wondering, who would you like to see replace Premier Burt if there was a snap election ?
They’re all nothing more than empty suits. Titty milk would the best of the worst.
Craig Cannonier
My 2 year old grandson because he knows the difference between right and wrong.
The question should be ‘If there was a snap election , who would you like to see replace the PLP ?’
Michael Dunkley.
Excuse me?
This was excellent work, great value for money and resulted in $12 million additional revenue for the people of Bermuda.
This is from a Govt spokesperson aka DCI. why? civil servants are meant to be non-political, this statement clearly is.
It was a cut and paste from the Sage report.
No additional revenue resulted. The revenue was already recorded. This is Receivable collection.
At my place of employment I am on several committees and I do not get paid anymore than my agreed upon salary.
coffee business was a little slow last year so burt helped flip flop get what he needed …not much different to the 1.2 million he paid to brown ….ctscan payments were down a little ….who is next must be Zane …as he didn’t get the airport contract ..one thing is for sure they put it right in your face …
the circus continues …….
“in your face” that would be a good name for a boat.
Can i get on the friends and family plan?
Efficiencies….are more costly than common sense approach.
Your approach in this matter is absurdly diabolical.