Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2015-09-16

Appointment of Advisors to Hon. Ministers

- The Secretary to the Cabinet having drawn the attention of the Cabinet of Ministers the need to have a policy decision with regard to the appointment of Advisors/Consultants and making payments to Advisors/Consultants so appointed, the Cabinet decided as follows:

to consider only the experts who possess an in depth knowledge of the subject matter and functions of the Ministry and are viewed by the Minister as persons who can provide advise that cannot be expected from serving senior officers of that Ministry, for appointment as advisors to Ministers.

only one Advisor/Consultant could be appointed to each Minster, but however, a maximum of only two Advisors/Consultants could be appointed to the Minister of a Ministry which has a wide purview and entrusted with two or more portfolios, subject to the approval of the Cabinet.

In making monthly payments to the Advisors/Consultants so appointed, the attention should be focused on their fulfillment of a high level of academic or professional qualifications pertaining to the subject matter of the relevant Ministry, on their contribution in pioneering programmes or projects of an innovative nature pertaining to the subject matter of the relevant Ministry, on themselves being persons who have held senior positions in the private sector drawing very high remuneration immediately prior to the appointment or who have held senior most positions in the public service.