Opposition grills Government on Contract employees at President’s Office

State Minister Joseph Harmon made the disclosures following a request from former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford.

Opposition grills Government on Contract employees at President’s Office

The government’s Chief Negotiator on Climate Change, Andrew Bishop is the highest paid contracted public servant within the Ministry of the Presidency.

Bishop rakes in a total of $1.35 million monthly and held the position for over five years under the People’s Progressive Party Civic government.

His information was revealed on Monday as Members of Parliament (MPs) considered the 2016 estimates of expenditure in the Committee of Supply.

Meanwhile, Floyd Levi who now heads the E Governance Unit is the second highest paid employee within the Ministry with his salary standing at $930,000 monthly.

He is followed by Col. Chabilall Ramsarup who is the Head of the Civil Defence Commission and Janelle Christine who is the Head of the Office of Climate Change.

State Minister Joseph Harmon made the disclosures following a request from former Public Service Minister Jennifer Westford.

Harmon also provided the names of the four lowest paid contracted workers and those names included cleaners and handy men who earn $50,000 monthly.

The Minister is expected to provide the House with all the names, designation, salaries and non-salary benefits of all contracted employees within the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira registered her disappointment with the answers not be readily available.

The opposition also pressed the government on the increases in contracted employees under the Ministry.

Harmon is to provide a detailed report on this to the House. He explained that it was due to the new inclusion of several ministries and departments under the Ministry of the Presidency.

He said several persons were identified, interviewed and hired by the government when it took office in May 2015 based on a need which existed at that time.

Mr. Harmon further explained that some positions were advertised but all persons were interviewed by a panel of persons.

But the opposition was not prepared to buy the government’s explanation and continued to press the government for explanations on the issue of contracted employees.

Harmon accused the opposition of trying to run his office when they made request for additional information, including proof that positions were advertised.

The Minister told the Committee that some of the employees are assigned to administrative regions.

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